UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


THE 


AFRICAN   COLONIZATION, 


BY  REV.  P.  SLAUGHTER, 


"  Africa  gave  to  Virginia,  a  Savage  and  a  Slave ;  Virginia  gives  back  to  Africa  a  Citizen 
and  a  Christian." — Henry  A.  Wise. 


RICHMOND : 

MACFARLANE  &  FERGUSSON. 
1855. 


MONROVIA. 


THE 


VIRGINIAN    HISTORY 


OF 


AFRICAN   COLONIZATION, 


BY  REV.  P.  SLAUGHTER. 


"  Africa  gave  to  Virginia,  a  Savage  and  a  Slave ;  Virginia  gives  back  to  Africa  a  Citizen 
and  a  Christian." — Henry  A.  Wise. 


RICHMOND : 
MACFARLANE  &  FERGUSSON. 

1855. 


INTRODUCTION 


TO    THE 


VIRGINIAN  HISTORY  OP  AFRICAN  COLONIZATION. 


AFRICA  IN  AMERICA. 


A  problem :  America  in  Africa  ;  its  solu- 
tion in  part,  Remarkable  series  of 
events  leading  to  the  formation  of  the 
Colonization  Society.  Extraordinary 
concurrence  of  politicians  of  all  parties 
and  Christians  of  all  creeds.  Apparent 
instances  of  Providential  intervention. 
Injudicious  defences  of  Slavery:  the 
true  ground  upon  which  to  rest  our  pe- 
culiar institution.  The  Colonization 
Society  a  true  exponent  of  public  senti- 
ment, and  a  response  to  repeated  de- 
mands of  the  General  Assembly.  Colo- 
nization and  Abolition  antagonistic : 
Colonization  a  safety-valve  to  the  ship 
of  State  ;  Abolition  the  bursting  of  the 
boiler.  Colonization  stamped  with  the 
broad  seal  of  the  Commonwealth  by  ten 
General  Assemblies  in  the  course  of  fif- 
ty years  ;  and  sustained  by  the  authori- 
ty of  Jefferson,  Madison,  Monroe,  Mar- 
shall, and  nearly  all  the  governors  of 
the  State,  and  by  a  greater  number  of 
eminent  Virginians  than  ever  concurred 
in  favor  of  any  other  measure  of  State 
policy. 

In  the  year  1607  three  English  ships 
were  driven  by  stress  of  weather  into  the 
capes  of  Virginia ;  and,  having  ascended 
the  James  River,  effected  the  first  perma- 
nent settlement  of  the  white  race  upon 
the  North  American  continent.  In  the 
year  1G20,  a  Dutch  man-of-war  ascended 
the  same  river,  and  landed  at  the  same 


place  twenty  African  slaves.  And  now 
for  the  first  time,  the  white  man,  the 
black  man,  and  the  red  man  stood  face  to 
face,  and  gazed  upon  each  other  in  the 
New  World.  ' 

From  that  moment  these  three  races 
started  upon  a  new  career,  which  is  now 
in  the  process  of  development  before  our 
eyes,  and  which  is  destined,  in  our  hum- 
ble judgment,  to  fulfil  upon  a  large  scale 
that  remarkable  prophecy  uttered  thous- 
ands of  years  before  by  the  Patriarch 
Noah,  when,  standing  upon  the  mount  of 
inspiration,  and  looking  down  the  course 
of  future  time,  he  proclaimed :  "  God 
shall  enlarge  Japheth,  and  he  shall  dwell 
in  the  tents  of  Shem,  and  Canaan  shall 
be  his  servant." 

The  contemplation  of  the  career  upon 
which  these  three  races  started  at  that 
eventful  moment  will  teach  us  some  inter- 
esting and  instructive  lessons.  There  was 
the  white  man,  the  type  of  Christian  civ- 
ilization. He  began  immediately  to  in- 
crease in  the  most  rapid  and  wonderful 
manner.  In  a  very  few  years,  he  pene- 
trated every  river  that  opened  its  mouth 
into  the  Atlantic  Ocean ;  he  ascended 
every  hill,  passed  every  mountain,  pour- 
ed along  the  valleys,  and  spread  over  the 
continent.  But  not  only  has  he  subdued 
the  wilderness,  and  made  those  vast  soli- 
tudes, hitherto  unbroken  save  by  the  war- 
whoop  of  the  Indian  and  the  scream  of 
the  eagle,  vocal  with  the  hum  of  industry 


*  This  article  was  written  for  the  Southern  Literary  Messenger  by  the  author  of  this  History, 
and  appeared  January,  1856. 


302260 


INTRODUCTION. 


and  the  songs  of  Christian  praise  ;  but  he 
has  accomplished  a  revolution  which  has 
no  parallel  in  the  annals  of  the  world ; 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  governments 
which  have  no  model  upon  the  face  of  the 
globe.  The  kings  of  the  old  world  are 
looking  with  awe  and  disquietude  upon 
this  "new  Rome  rising  in  the  West ;  the 
foreshadows  of  whose  greatness  yet  to  b« 
are  extending  darkly  and  heavily  over 
their  dominions,  and  obscuring  the  lustre 
of  their  thrones." 

Where  are  the  other  parties  to  this  in- 
teresting meeting  ?  The  red  man  has  re- 
tired before  the  rising  tide  of  white  pop- 
ulation ;  receding  from  the  Blue  Ridge 
o  the  Alleghany,  from  the  Alleghany  to 
the  Mississippi ;  and  disappearing  from 
each  in  quick  succession,  like  snow  be- 
fore the  sun.  He  may  linger  for  a  few 
years  on  our  western  horizon,  but  is  des- 
tined ere  long  to  make  his  "  ocean  grave 
with  the  setting  sun."  His  history  is  an 
instructive  instance  of  the  effect  of  leav- 
ing an  inferior  in  contact  with  a  superior 
race,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  Us  own 
wild  liberty.  Had  the  African  been  left 
like  the  Indian,  in  his  native  freedom,  his 
would  have  been  the  fate  of  the  Indian.* 
But  in  the  mysterious  Providence  of  God, 
the  African  was  "  bound  to  the  car  of  the 
Anglo-American,"  who  has  borne  him 
along  with  him  in  his  upward  career,  pro- 
tecting his  weakness  and  providing  for 
his  wants.  Accordingly,  he  has  grown 
with  our  growth  and  strengthened  with 
our  strength,  until  he  is  numbered  by 
millions  instead  of  scores ;  and  if  the  ac- 
cession by  immigration  had  not  been  ar- 
rested, the  black  might  have  surpassed 
the  white  population.  In  the  meantime, 
the  black  man  has  been  trained  in  the 
habits,  manners  and  arts  of  civilized  life, 
been  taught  the  Christian  religion,  and 
been  gradually  rising  in  the  intellectual 
and  moral  order,  until  he  is  far  above  his 
race  in  their  native  seats.  In  these  facts 
we  see  traces  of  the  designs  of  an  all- 
wise  Providence,  in  permitting  the  black 
man  to  be  brought  ln-re  and  subjected  to 


the  discipline  of  slavery  tempered  Ly 
Christianity,  and  regulated  by  law.  Veri- 
ly, if  there  had  been  no  other  end  of  such 
a  procedure,  this  "  seeming  sha^p  Provi- 
dence of  God  would  have  been  highly 
justified."  But  as  we  proceed,  we  shall 
see  new  and  more  beautiful  instances  of 
design  as  the  history  of  the  race  is  evol- 
\--l  under  the  Providence  of  God. 

No  sooner  had  we  taken  our  place  a.s 
an  independent  power  among  the  nations, 
and  begun  to  legislate  for  ourselves,  than 
a  new  phenomenon  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  our  legislators:  viz:  the  class  of 
free  colored  people.  The  thirteen  colo- 
nies which  adopted  the-  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence w«re  slaveholders:  v 
these  colonies  became  States,  they  i  • 
ed  their  sovereign  power  over  the  ^ac- 
tion of  slavery.  In  the  exercise  of  that 
sovereignty,  seven  of  the  original  thirteen 
in  process  of  time  emancipated  their 
slaves.  Many  individuals  in  the  South- 
ern States  emancipated  a  still  larger  num- 
ber. This  anomalous  class  soon  attracted 
the  public  attention.  Mr.  Jefferson  pre- 
pared a  comprehensive  plan  of  coloniza- 
tion in  17~o :  but  nothing  definite  was 
done,  probably  because  when  the  report 
of  the  committee  of  revision  was  acted 
upon,  Jefferson,  its  chairman,  was  in 
Trance,  and  Pcndleton  and  Wythe.  two 
of  its  members,  were  on  the  bench.  In 
after  years,  the  subject  was  rej>catedly 
discussed  in  the  legislature,  and  became 
a  matter  of  grave  consultation  and  eur- 
respondence  between  the  President  of  the 
United  States  (Jefferson)  and  Page  and 
Monroe,  governors  of  Virginia.  The 
General  Assembly,  in  1800,  1802  and 
1805,  passed  resolutions  upon  the  subject; 
and  opinions  were  interchanged  between 
the  President  of  the 'United  States,  the 
governors  of  Virginia,  and  the  General 
Asseinhlv,  as  to  the  comparative  advan- 
ofour  South-western  frontier,  of  the- 
West  Indies,  and  of  Africa,  as  a  site  for 
the  propo-i-d  Asylum  for  free  negroes. 
Our  difficulties  with  foreign  powers  now 
supervened,  and  arrested  these  interest- 


*  In  the  Northern  States  the  free  negroes  are  declining  in  rxnuberf>,  notwilltetanding  the  acces- 
sion to  them  of  fugitive  slaves.  Tho  heaviest  ulmtement  lias  hccn  in  the  last  twenty  years,  tlie  p»- 
>uxi  of  the  inccit  strenuous  efforts  of  (he  Abolitionists- 


INTRODUCTION. 


ing  proceedings.  Mr.  Jefferson,  howev- 
er, continued  to  agitate  the  subject  from 
his  retirement  at  Monticello  ;  saying,  in 
1811 :  "I  have  long  made  up  my  mind,  > 
and  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that  I  / 
have  ever  thought  this  the  most  desirable 
measure  that  could  be  adopted  for  draw- 
ing off  this  part  of  our  population ;  most 
advantageous  for  them  as  well  as  for  us. 
Going  from  a  country  possessing  all  the 
useful  arts,  they  might  be  the  means  of 
transplanting  them  among  the  inhabitants 
of  Africa;  and  would  thus  carry  back  to 
the  country  of  their  origin  the  seeds  of 
civilization;  which  might  render  their  so- 
journ here  a  blessing  in  the  end  to  that 
country." 

So  soon  as  the  country  was  again  at 
peace,  the  public  mind  reverted  with  re- 
newed interest  to  the  subject  of  coloniza- 
tion; and  in  December  1816,  the  General 
Assembly  passed  the  following  resolutions 
by  a  majority  of  137  out  of  146  votes  in 
the  House  of  Delegates  ;  and  with  but  one 
dissenting  voice  in  the  Senate: 

"  Whereas,  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia  has  repeatedly  sought  to  obtain 
an  asylum  beyond  the  limits  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  for  such  persons  of  color  as 
have  been  or  may  be  emancipated  under 
the  laws  of  this  Commonwealth,  but  have 
hitherto  found  all  their  efforts  frustrated, 
either  by  the  disturbed  state  of  other  na- 
tions, or  by  domestic  causes  equally  un- 
propitious ;  they  now  avail  themselves  of 
a  period  when  peace  has  healed  the 
wounds  of  humanity,  and  the  principal 
nations  of  Europe  have  agreed  with  the 
United  States  in  abolishing  the  slave 
trade  (a  traffic  which  this  Commonwealth, 
both  before  and  after  the  revolution,  sed- 
ulously sought  to  extirpate,)  to  renew  this 
effort :  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  executive  be  reques- 
ted to  correspond  with  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
taining a  territory  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
or  at  some  other  place  not  within  any  of 
the  States  or  Territories  of  the  United 
States,  to  serve  for  an  asylum  of  such 
persons  of  color  as  are  now  free  and  de- 
sire the  same;  and  for  those  who  may  be 
hereafter  emancipated  within  this  Com- 
monwealth: and  that  the  Senators  and 
Representatives  of  this  State  in  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States  be  requested 
to  exert  their  best  efforts  to  aid  in  the  at- 
tainment of  that  object." 


These  resolutions,  which  are  substan- 
tially a  copy  of  those  of  1802  and  1805, 
contain  the  whole  idea  of  the  Coloniza- 
tion Society,  as  now  embodied.  But 
something  more  than  mere  political  ex- 
pediency, or  even  motives  of  humanity, 
was  necessary  for  the  realization  of  this 
idea.  Grand  epochs  in  the  history  of 
man's  amelioration  are  signalized  by 
higher  motives  than  those  which  dictate 
mere  human  policies.  Christianity  is  the 
mainspring  of  that  intricate  mechanism 
which  is  bearing  the  earth  along  from  its 
wintry  and  torpid  position,  and  bringing 
it  under  the  influence  of  serener  heavens 
and  an  awakening  Spring.  It  was  not 
until  the  spirit  of  God  breathed  the 
breath,  of  life  into  the  speculation  of  the 
politician  that  it  became  an  organized 
and  living  body  in  the  form  ot  the  "Col- 
onization Society."  Let  us  look  back  for 
a  moment,  and  see  how  this  new  element 
entered  into  the  combination,  and  secur- 
ed that  indispensable  condition  of  suc- 
cess, the  co-operation  of  Christians  and 
politicians  to  the  same  end. 

The  conversion  of  Central  Africa  to 
Christianity  had  long  been  an  insoluble 
problem  to  the  Christian  church.  The 
"Sun  of  Righteousness,"  in  making  his 
sun-like  circuit  of  the  earth,  had  visited 
other  lands,  and  even  illumined  the  fron- 
tiers of  Africa ;  but  not  a  ray  had  pen- 
etrated the  land  of  the  Black  man.  Ethi- 
opia was  still  the  "Niobe  of  Nations, 
childless  and  crownless  in  her  voiceless 
woe."  In  response  to  her  mute  appeal, 
missionaries,  Catholic  and  Protestant, 
casting  behind  them  "  all  countryships, 
and  all  the  sweet  charities  of  Home," 
went  forth,  for  two  centuries,  with  "the 
heroic  purpose  of  planting  the  "  ensigns 
of  the  Gospel"  within  this  intrenched 
camp  of  Satan.  The  result  was  a  per- 
fect failure  ;  and  the  bones  of  a  noble  ar- 
my of  martyrs  bleached  their  burning 
sands.  To  human  view,  the  land  seemed 
doomed ;  but  not  to  the  eye  of  faith, 
which  saw,  through  these  frowning  Prov- 
idences, "  Ethiopia  [in  the  language  of 
the  Prophet]  stretching  out  her  hands 
unto  God."  Many  Christian  hearts  were 
still  anxiously  revolving  the  problem ; 


VI 


INTRODUCTION. 


and  to  them  the  happy  thought  was  sug- 
gested (as  we  believe,  by  the  spirit  of 
God,)  of  returning  to  the  land  of  their 
fathers  christianized  Africans  bearing  the 
ark  of  God,  and  all  the  institutions  of 
Christian  civilization.  Happily,  there  was 
a  class  of  these  persons  (the  free  negroes) 
to  whose  going  no  objection  could  be  op- 
posed. Indeed,  all  interests,  social  and 
political,  conspired  to  favor  the  sugges- 
tion. Thus,  politicians  and  Christians 
(each  unconscious  of  what  the  other  was 
doing)  started  from  different  stand-points 
and,  proceeding  upon  different  times  of 
argument,  came  to  the  same  conclusion 
at  the  same  time.* 

Accordingly,  politicians  of  all  parties 
and  Christians  of  all  creeds  assembled  in 
the  city  of  Washington  soon  after  the 
passage  of  tue  Virginia  resolutions,  and 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  Colonization 
Society;  burying  under  its  corner-stone 
all  party  feelings  in  politics,  and  all  sec- 
tarian jealousies  in  religion.  What  but 
the  over-ruling  Providence  of  God  could 
have  produced  this  conjuncture  of  cir- 
cumstances and  union  of  minds?f 
— It  was  a  happy  coincidence,  that  the 
year  of  the  establishment  of  the  Coloni- 
zation Society  was  the  year  of  Jas.  Mon- 
roe's accession  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States.  We  have  seen  Monroe's 
active  co-operation,  while  governor  of 
Virginia,  with  Jefferson,  then  President 
of  the  United  States,  in  stimulating  and 
shaping  those  acts  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  Virginia  which  led  to  the  for- 
mation of  the  Colonization  Society.  We 
shall  now  see  his  agency  in  a  higher 
sphere,  in  executing  those  laws  of  Con- 
gress which  were  perhaps  indispensable 


to  the  establishment  of  the  Colony  itself. 
It  was  hardly  possible  for  a  private  so- 
ciety, with  small  pecuniary  resources, 
and  working  with  such  rude  materials, 
to  make  a  permanent  plantation  upon  a 
distant  and  barbarous  shore.}:  And  it  was 
not  likely  that  the  government  of  the 
United  States  would  take  the  responsibil- 
ity of  such  a  measure,  although  Jeffer- 
son, Madison,  Monroe  and  Marshall  all 
concurred  in  the  opinion  of  its  expedien- 
cy and  constitutionality.  But  that  Di- 
vine Providence  whose  ways  are  not  as 
our  ways  had  (as  it  seems  to  our  short 
sight)  laid  far  back  in  the  legislation  of 
Congress  a  train  of  causes  whose  effects 
made  it  the  interest  of  our  General  Gov- 
ernment to  co-operate  with  the  Coloni/a- 
tion  Society.  The  act  of  Congress  pro- 
hibiting the  foreign  slave  trade  aftor  1808 
contained  a  provision  placing  Africans 
recaptured  by  our  Navy  at  the  disposition 
of  the  legislature  of  any  State  within 
whose  territory  they  might  be  landed. 
Under  this  provision,  the  legislatures  of 
several  States  sold  a  number  of  recap- 
tured Africans  into  slavery.  In  1819, 
two  delegates  from  Virginia,  Messrs. 
Mercer  and  Floyd,  reported  a  bill  repeal- 
ing those  provisions  which  enabled  a 
State  to  defeat  the  intention  of  Congress 
in  prohibiting  the  slave  trade.  The  law 
of  1819  committed  all  recaptured  Afri- 
cans to  the  custody  of  the  marshals  of 
the  United  States  unfit  they  could  be  re- 
stored to  their  men  rounlry.  It  also  au- 
thorized the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  appoint  agents  upon  the  coast 
of  Africa,  to  receive  these  Africans ;  and 
appropriated  §100,000  to  carry  its  provi- 
sions into  effect.^  The  legislation  of 


•The  proceedings  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  up  to  1816  had  been  in  secret  session. 
Dr.  Hopkins  conceived  the  idea  of  substituting  negroes  for  white  misssionaries  to  Africa  in  1789. 

t  Among  the  persons  most  active  in  the  measures  leading  to  the  formation  of  the  Society  were 
Rev.  Dr.  Findley  of  New  Jersey,  Bishop  Meade  of  Virginia,  and  Messrs.  Key  and  Caldwell  of  the 
District  of  Columbia.  Henry  Clay  presided  nt  the  meeting  on  the  21st  of  December;  and  address- 
es were  delivered  by  him  and  John  Randolph  of  Roanoke.  Judge  Washington  was  made  Presi- 
dent ;  and  among  the  vice-presidents  were  Clay,  Crawford,  Andrew  Jackson,  Bishop  Meade  and 
John  Tyler  of  Virginia. 

JThe  Society  had  borrowed  money  to  pay  the  expenses  of  Mills  and  Burgess  in  searching  for  a 
site  for  the  colony.  Gen.  Mercer  in  Baltimore,  and  Bishop  Meade  in  Virginia,  raised  more  than 
$  10,000  to  replace  this  sum. 

IfFor  the  details  of  these  events,  see  2nd  chap,  of  the  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


INTRODUCTION. 


vn 


Congress  having  thus  devolved  upon  the 
government  of  the  United  States  a  ne- 
cessity for  providing  an  asylum  for  re- 
captured Africans,  it  became  the  interest 
of  the  General  Government  to  co-operate 
with  the  Colonization  Society,  whose  be- 
nevolent designs  were  just  ripe  for  exe- 
cution. We  cannot  tell  how  it  strikes 
others,  but  for  ourselves,  we  recognize 
with  reverence  in  these  proceedings  what 
seem  to  us  unmistakeable  indications  of 
a  Divine  Providence  presiding  over  and 
"  shaping  the  ends"  of  individuals  and  of 
nations. 

v  The  beneficent  interpretation  of  this 
law  of  Congress  by  Mr.  Monroe,  and  the 
kind  offices  of  Capts.  Wadsworth,  Stock- 
ton and  Spence,  of  the  Navy,  acting  un- 
der his  orders,  enabled  the  Society  to 
overcome  the  formidable  obstacles  to  the 
successful  plantation  of  the  colony  at 
Cape  Mesurado.  It  was  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  these  services  that  the  capital  of 
the  infant  settlement  was  called  Monro- 
via. 

V  In  1820  (just  two  hundred  years  after 
the  landing  of  the  blacks  at  Jamestown,) 
the  Elizabeth  sailed  for  the  coast  of  Af- 
rica, with  eighty-three  emigrants  and  a 
few  white  men,  who  had  volunteered  to 
be  pioneers  in  this  doubtful  and  perilous 
experiment.  We  will  not  stop  to  recite  the 
affecting  story  of  their  adventures,  which 
in  many  incidents  were  strangely  like 
those  of  the  first  settlers  of  Virginia, 
The  time  may  come  when  their  heroism 
may  be  fitly  commemorated  by  the  muse 
of  History. 

Altho'  no  sculptured  form  should  deck  the 

place, 

Or  marble  monuments  those  ashes  grace, 
Still,  for  the  deeds  of  worth  which  they  have 

done, 
Shall  flowers  unfading  flourish  on  their  tomb.* 

Only  one-third  of  a  century  has  elapsed 
since  the  little  company  of  free  negroes 


pitched  their  tents  in  Jhe  African  wilder- 
ness, and  the  result  is  the  Republic  of 
Liberia,  whose  independence  has  been 
acknowledged  by  most  of  the  leading  na- 
tions in  the  world.  Colonizationists  have 
been  charged  with  painting  too  flattering 
portraits  of  this  young  republic.  We 
admit  that  this  has  sometimes  been  done. 
Exaggeration  is  the  child  of  enthusiasm, 
as  enthusiasm  is  generally  the  parent  of 
novel  and  bold  enterprises.  But  if  the 
friends  of  Liberia  have  extenuated  her 
failings,  her  enemies  have  "  set  down 
much  in  malice."  If  our  pictures  are 
sometimes  overwrought,  theirs  are  often 
caricatures.  If  we  are  enthusiasts,  they 
are  fanatics,  if  fanaticism  be,  according 
to  a  great  philosopher,  "  enthusiasm  in-  ^ 
flamed  by  hatred/'f  But  if  we  set  aside 
the  prejudiced  witnesses  on  either  side, 
and  take  only  the  disinterested  testimo- 
ny of  our  naval  officers,  we  shall  find  ev- 
idence enough  to  at  least  encourage  a 
rational  hope  that  our  experiment  will 
succeed.  Commodores  Stockton,  Perry, 
Cooper,  Lavallette,  Read,  Mayo,  Grego- 
ry, and  we  believe  every  officer  who  has 
commanded  a  squadron  upon  the  coast  of 
Africa;  with  Commanders  Marston, 
Lynch,  Foote,  Rudd,  and  many  other 
subordinate  officers,  unite  in  bearing 
witness  to  the  general  contentment,  com- 
fort, and  spirit  of  improvement  which 
reign  in  Liberia,  justifying,  in  their  opin- 
ion, the  confident  expectation  that  the 
settlement  will  endure,  and  furnish  a 
happy  home  for  all  of  our  colored  people 
who  may  seek  an  asylum  there. % 

But  whatever  conflicting  opinions  may 
be  entertained  upon  this  subject,  the  fol- 
lowing facts  are  undeniable:  there  exists 
upon  the  coast  of  Africa  a  Republic  of 
free  blacks  from  the  United  States,  orga- 
nized after  the  American  model.  They 
live  under  a  constitution  recognizing  the 
principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty, 


*  Gurley's  Life  of  Ashmuni?,  a  noble  and  eloquent  tribute  to  these  humble  but  heroic  pioneers. 

t  The  hatred  of  an  Abolitionist  is  never  so  intense  as  when  a  colonizationist  is  the  object  of  it. 

t  All  who  desire  full  information  upon  this  point  should  take  the  trouble  to  read  the  letters, of 
these  officers,  Gurley's  Report  to  the  State  Department,  Lynch  and  Pinney's  Observations,  anil 
Lugenbeel's  Sketches  of  the  Climate,  Diseases,  Geography,  Productions,  and  general  condition  of 
Liberia. 


VIII 


INTRODUCTION. 


which  lie  at  the  base  of  our  own  institu- 
tions, and  which  are  not  enjoyed  by  any 
other  people  under  the  sun.  They  have 
a  President,  who  is  elected  every  two 
years;  and  senators  and  representatives, 
who  are  elected  annually.  These  elec- 
tions have  been  for  many  years  conduct- 
ed with  order  and  according  to  law.  The 
annual  messages  of  the  President  com- 
pare favorably  with  similar  documents 
from  the  governors  of  our  States,  and 
breathe  a  more  enlarged  and  elevated 
tone  of  morals  and  statesmanship  than 
many  of  the  latter  documents.  They 
have  courts  of  justice,  in  which  the  laws 
are  administered  with  dignity  and  intel- 
ligence. They  have  print  inn  presses  and 
nm-x  papers;  high  schools  and  common 
schools;  and  many  churches,  which  are 
vocal  every  Sunday  with  the  sound  of  the 
gospel,  and  with  songs  of  praise.  They 
have  driven  the  slave  trade  from  five  hun- 
dred miles  of  the  coast ;  thus  accomplish- 
ing with  the  Dove  of  Peace  what  the 
Lion  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Eagle  of 
America,  floating  at  the  mastheads  of 
proud  squadrons,  have  failed  to  achieve.* 
They  have  extended  their  jurisdiction 
over  a  hundred  thousand  natives,  who 
have  renounced  many  of  their  savage 
customs,  and  are  being  gradually  trained 
in  the  arts  of  civilization.! 

They  have  advanced  the  base  of  our 
missionary  operations  across  the  Atlan- 
tic; and  make  the  centre  of  African 
missions  coincide  with  what  was  late- 
ly the  centre  of  African  barbarism.  They 
have  provided  an  asylum  for  the  exile,  a 
home  for  the  homeless,  and  a  nursery  of 
indigenous  missionaries,  who  can  live  in 
a  clime  fatal  to  the  white  man. 

When  we  compare  the  feeble  instru- 
ments by  which  these  results  have  been 
wrought,  and  the  short  time  in  which 
they  have  been  working,  with  the  im- 
mense expenditures  of  "  civilization  and 
missionary  societies"  for  two  hundred 


years  before  the  founding  of  Liberia,  it 
seems  little  less  than  a  miracle,  and  looks 
like  one  of  those  instances  in  which  the 
great  Disposer  of  events  chooses  the 
weak  aiul  foolish  things  of  the  world  to 
confound  the  wise  and  mighty. 

In  this  view  of  it,  African  colonization 
is  a  great  Christian  mission,  which  has 
the  fervent  prayers  of  Christians  of  all 
creeds  in  Virginia,  and  it  is  annually 
commended  with  unanimous  voices  by 
Methodist  Conferences,  Baptist  Associa- 
tions, Presbyterian  Synod*,  and  Episco- 
pal Conventions;  who  look  upon  it  as 
"God's  plan"  for  the  regeneration  of  Af- 
rica.J 

But  while  this  is  the  groat  leading  end 
of  the  Colonization  Society,  f/tcfm-f  whit-It, 
rit'ilizes  it,  it  carries  in  its  train  many 
other  benign  results  -which  enlist  in  its 
support  the  Philosopher,  the  Philanthro-  * 
pist,  ami  the  Politician.  The  Philoso-  » 
pher  regards  it  as  an  interesting  experi- 
ment to  test  the  capacity  of  the  negro  for 
self-government.  He  sees  that  the  Afri- 
can under  the  discipline  of  slavery  has 
risen  far  above  the  stature  of  his  ances- 
tors in  their  native  land;  and  he  knows 
that  man  in  a  state  of  conscious  inferi- 
ority cannot  unfold  his  powers  any  more 
than  a  plant  in  the  dark  or  under  the 
shade.  He  must,  in  the  language  of  Mr. 
AVel.Mcr,  come  out.  He  must  feel  his 
equality.  He  must  enjoy  the  shining 
sun  in  the  heavens  as  much  as  those 
around  him,  before  lie  feels  that  he  is  in 
all  respects  a  man.  The  Philosopher 
thinks  that  in  Liberia  the  negro  has  a 
favorable  theatre  for  the  full  trial  of  the 
experiment ;  and  he  watches  with  anxie- 
ty the  solution  of  the  problem. 

The  Philanthropist  sees  in  Virginia 
fifty  thousand  human  beings  (the  free 
negroes)  in  a  state  of  physical,  mental, 
social  and  moral  degradation  in  melan- 
choly contrast  with  other  classes  of  our 
people.  They  are  nominally  free,  but 


*  It  is  universally  admitted  that  the  slave  trade  has  been  banished  from  the  whole  Liberinn  coast. 

t  One  native  has  been  already  a  representative  in  the  Assembly;  and  the  kings  and  head  men 
are  sending  their  children  to  school. 

t  That  these  great  bodies  of  christians  are  ull  of  one  min'i  upon  this  subject  is  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  fuels  in  our  history. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IX 


enjoy  none  of  the  privileges  of  freedom 
but  the  license  of  doing  nothing.  "Plac- 
ed beneath  the  white  man,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  nominally  above  the  slave,  on 
the  other ;  in  contact  with  both,  but  in 
union  with  neither;  they  cannot  bo 
reached  by  the  strong  motives  which  im- 
pel either  class  to  exertion  and  honest 
courses.  All  of  the  most  lucrative  and 
honorable  pursuits  of  life  are  closed 
against  them.  They  feel  none  of  those 
nobler  sentiments  of  our  common  nature 
which  bid  us,  even  in  servitude,  to  cling 
with  grateful  reverence  and  affection  to 
our  benefactors  and  superiors.  They  do 
not  even  feel  that  salutary  fear  of  im- 
pending punishment  which,  while  it  does 
not  in  itself  morally  elevate  the  slave,  at 
least  keeps  him  from  idleness,  and  urges 
him  to  honest  and  orderly  habits. 
Crushed  by  the  combined  agencies  of  su- 
perior capital  and  intelligence  and  the 
competing  power  of  organized  slave  la- 
bor, itself  wielded  by  intelligence  and 
aided  by  capital;  crowded  out  of  the 
humbler  occupations  of  life;  with  noth- 
ing of  liberty  but  its  name,  and  all  of 
slavery  but  its  blessings;  with  no  coun- 
try of  his  own,  a  social  outcast  and  a  po- 
litical outlaw ;  the  free  negro,  conscious 
of  the  irredeemable  degradation  of  his 
lot,  grows  reckless  of  a  future  from 
which  he  has  nothing  to  hope  or  fear,  be- 
comes discontented  in  his  feelings,  dis- 
honest in  his  habits,  and  desperate  in  his 
crimes.  Under  these  circumstances,  they 
fill  our  jails  with  prisoners,  our  courts 
with  criminals,  and  our  penitentiary  with 
convicts."* 

We  are  so  organized  by  our  Creator, 
that,  unless  our  moral  sense  is  perverted 
by  sophistical  reasoning,  we  cannot  but 
feel  a  compassion  for  our  unfortunate 
fellow-creatures ;  especially  when  they 
lie  in  the  dust  at  our  feet,  and  are  com- 
pletely subject  to  our  power.  The  sym- 
pathies which  spring  up  spontaneously 
in  our  bosoms  at  the  sight  of  such  ob- 
jects, and  prompt  us  to  extend  our  hands 


for  their  relief,  are  honorable  to  the  hu- 
man heart,  however  they  may  be  some- 
times brought  into  contempt  by  sickly 
sentimentalists,  who  do  homage  to  this 
virtue  by  canting  about  what  they  do  not 
feel.  There  'are  thousands  of  men  in 
Virginia,  worthy  of  all  respect  and  hon- 
or, who  have  for  half  a  century  been  re- 
volving this  problem  of  the  destiny  of 
this  daily  blackening  mass  of  free  ne-  . 
groes  in  our  State.  The  result  has  been 
the  suggestion  of  several  schemes  for 
their  and  our  relief.  It  has  been  propos- 
ed to  reduce  them  to  slavery,  as  the  most 
humane  expedient.  A  proposition  so 
opposed  to  the  genius  of  our  institutions 
and  to  the  spirit  of  the  age,  is  not  likely 
to  be  seriously  entertained  by  the  legis- 
lature of  Virginia,  as  indeed  it  could  not 
be  justified  upon  any  recognized  moral 
or  American  political  principle,  and  could 
be  vindicated  only  by  the  "tyrant's  plea" 
of  absolute  necessity,  a  contingency 
which  has  certainly  not  yet  arisen.  Shall 
we  amalgamate  with  them  ?  All  the  in- 
stincts of  our  nature  repel  the  sugges- 
tion. Between  us  and  them  "  there  is  a 
great  gulf  fixed."  Until  the  Ethiopian 
can  change  his  skin,  no  human  power 
can  ever  bridge  that  gulf  so  that  we  can 
stand  upon  the  same  social  and  political 
platform.  No:  the  white  man  and  the 
free  negro- 
Stand  and  frown  upon  each  other, 
Like  cliffs  that  have  been  rent  asunder, 
And  neither  heat  nor  frost  nor  thunder 
Shall  ever  do  away,  I  ween, 
The  marks  of  that  which  once  hath  been. 

S 
Another  alternative  is,  to  colonize  thenij^/' 

by  force  in  the  Northern  States.  As  a 
measure  of  retaliation,  this  would  be  a 
justf  judgment  upon  the  insane  Aboli- 
tionists. But  even  if  the  scheme  were 
practicable,  we  have  no  right  to"  sport 
with  these  helpless  creatures  by  making 
them  the  ministers  of  our  vengeance. 
But  the  project  is  impracticable;  for  the 
subtle  casuists  of  the  North  make  a  re- 


*  From  1800  to  1829,  crimes  among  the  free  blacks  were  more  than  three  times  as  many  as 
among  the  whites  j  and  four  and  a  half  times  more  numerous  than  among  the  slaves.  From  1829 
to  the  present  time,  the  proportion  has  regularly  increased.  See  Penitentiary  reports,  as  quoted 
in  Mr.  Howard's  memorial. 


INTRODUCTION. 


fined  distinction  between  free  negroes 
:and  fugitive  slaves.  The  latter,  coming 
to  them  upon  "underground  railroads," 
they  welcome  with  open  arms ;  while  the 
former,  coming  in  open  day,  are  repelled 
with  indignation  and  contempt.*  Again, 
as  a  matter  of  policy,  nothing  could  be 
more  inexpedient  than  such  a  disposition 
of  our  free  negroes ;  who  would  become 
correspondents  of  their  friends  here,  ex- 
citing among  them  a  spirit  of  discontent 
and  insubordination ;  and  facilitating  the 
escape  of  fugitives.  And  then,  every  ex- 
ile would  add  fuel  to  the  flames  already 
raging  so  fiercely  in  the  North,  and 
threatening  with  parricidal  wickedness, 
to  set  fire  to  and  consume  the  great  tem- 
ple of  "  American  liberty."  In  confir- 
mation of  this  view,  we  may  adduce  the 
authority  of  the  governor  elect  of  Virgi- 
nia ;  who  said  in  his  late  letter  to  Dr. 
Adams :  "  looking  to  the  ends  of  ultimate 
colonization,  and  the  true  policy  of  the 
States  at  home,  /  would  prohibit  by  law 
the  future  emigration  of  the  free  colored 
population  from  our  State  to  the  free 
States.  Dr.  Drake  was  right  in  his 
views  of  our  laws  driving  away  the  free 
negroes  to  the  free  States.  It  has  been 
one  of  the  most  baneful  causes  of  Aboli- 
tionism in  the  North." 

The  question  returns,  what  can  be  done 
with  these  miserable  creatures?  Our 
laws  are  bearing  upon  them  with  more 
and  more  stringency  every  year;  tending 
to  drive  them  beyond  our  borders.  In 
the  same  proportion,  the  legislation  of  the 
North  is  shutting  the  door  in  their  faces ; 
and  no  way  of  escape  remains  but  the 
"way  of  the  sea."  Shall  we  drive  them, 
like  the  herd  of  swine  possessed  with 
devils,  down  "the  steep,"  to  be  drowned? 
Justice  and  mercy  both  protest  against  the 


avail  ourselves  of  the  open  door  disclosed 
to  us  by  the  Colonization  Society,  :intl 
use  its  economicalf  agency  in  conveying 
these  helpless  people  across  the  interve- 
ning waters  to  the  asylum  which  Provi- 
dence, in  apparent  anticipation  of  the 
exigency,  has  prepared  for  them  in  their 
fatherland? 

But  it  has  been  said,  that  it  is  not  an 
act  of  humanity  to  send  the  free  blacks 
to  so  inhospitable  a  clime.  Wo  confess 
that  we  have  had  some  misgivings  upon 
this  point,  founded  upon  the  distressing 
mortality  which  has  befallen  some  compa- 
nies of  emigrants  to  Liberia.  But  farther 
reflection  and  more  accurate  information 
have  dissipated  our  doubta.  Tropical 
Africa  is  the  cradle  of  the  negro  race ; 
and  notliing  seems  to  us  more  improba- 
ble than  that  the  original  seat  of  a  peo- 
ple is  not  a  fit  habitation  for  them.  But 
the  conclusion  ia  not  warranted  by  the 
facts  in  the  case.  The  mortality  in  ques- 
tion can,  in  nearly  every  instance,  be 
distinctly  traced  to  the  inadequacy  of  the 
provision  made  for  their  comfort,  or  to 
the  indiscretion  of  the  emigrants,  in 
rashly  exposing  themselves,  during  their 
acclimation,  to  the  sun  by  day  and  tho 
dews  by  night.  These  are  contingencies 
to  which  emigrants  to  every  new  clime 
are  liable  ;  and  in  these  cases  may  some- 
times implicate  the  proper  authorities  in 
criminal  negligence  of  the  duties  confid- 
ed to  them.  Again,  a  comparison  of  the 
colonization  of  Liberia  and  of  Virginia 
will  be  most  instructive  and  convincing. 
A  single  passage  from  Howison's  History 
of  Virginia  will  suffice:  "In  1G09,  Capt. 
Smith  left  at  Jamestown  490  persons 
with  abundant  supplies.  Indian  ambus- 
cades were  in  every  hedge.  The  settlers 
were  afraid  to  go  out  for  food  or  recrea- 


needless  sacrifice.     Shall  we  not  rather      tion.      Famine  with  all  its  horrors  was 


"Witness  the  Black  laws  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  Ohio,  and  Delaware;  and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Sawyer's 
speech  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  defending  his  constituents  for  the  expulsion  of  John  Ran- 
dolph's negroes.  A  Virginian  not  long  ago  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Ohio  upon  which  he 
intended  to  settle  200  slaves,  but  his  design  was  defeated  by  these  laws. 

t  The  Colonization  Society  has  sent  to  Africa  about  3,500  emigrants  ;  which,  at  $50  each,  would 
have  cost  the  State  $175,000  ;  whereas,  there  has  not  been  drawn  from  the  State  treasury  by  the 
Colonization  Society  during  the  whole  period  of  its  history,  more  than  $20,000;  the  remainder  hav- 
ing been  supplied  by  donations  in  this  and  other  States. 


INTRODUCTION, 


soon  among  them,  and  disease  and  death 
followed  in  its  train.  They  ate  the  skins 
of  horses,  the  bodies  of  Indians,  dogs, 
and  vermin.  Of  490  persons,  60  only 
survived."  The  first  two  expeditions  to 
our  shores  were  overwhelmed  at  sea. 
The  third  effected  a  landing  in  1656;  and 
in  five  years  was  extinct.  The  fourth  was 
successful,  after  a  series  of  cruel  distresses 
whose  recital  fills  the  mind  with  horror. 
If  disasters  had  attended  the  coloniza- 
tion of  Liberia  similar  to  those  which  oc- 
curred at  Jamestown  and  Plymouth,  and 
which  have  signalized  manj  removals 
from  Virginia  to  our  Southern  and  Wes- 
tern States,  our  enterprise  would  have 
been  overwhelmed  by  the  curses  of  those 
who  have  no  tears  to  shed  over  the  young, 
the  beautiful,  and  the  brave,  whose  bones 
bleach  the  prairies  of  the  West  and  the 
shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the 
Pacific  Ocean.* 

But,  it  is  said,  that  the  growth  of  Li- 
beria and  the  operation  of  the  Coloniza- 
tion Society  are  too  slow.  This  objec- 
tion is  characteristic  of  this  age,  and  of 
the  American  people.  We  are  impatient 
of  results  that  are  long  in  coming.  Eve- 
ry thing,  now-a-days,  that  is .  worthy  of 
doing,  must  be  done  with  the  speed  of 
lightning  and  the  energy  of  an  earth- 
quake. This  is  an  age  of  "  expresses" 
and  electric  telegraphs,  but  noc  of  mira- 
cles. Time  is  an  indispensable  element 
in  human  progress ;  and  an  omen  of  last- 
ing grandeur  and  renown.  French  Re- 
publics may  spring  up  in  a  night,  like 
enchanted  palaces  in  Arabian  tales ;  but 
America  was  more  than  150  years  old  be- 
fore she  declared  her  independence.  Time 
was,  when  it  was  proposed  to  offer  boun- 
ties to  quicken  immigration  to  our  shores ; 
and  now,  the  emigration  from  the  old 
world  to  the  new  is  such  as  the  world  has 
never  seen  since  the  first  dispersion  of 


mankind.     Emigrants  are  swarming  over 
in  crowds  like  the  travellers  to  eternity ; 
"  while  those  who  are  left  behind  seem  to 
feel  a  melancholy  restlessness,  like  a  bird 
whose  wing  is  crippled  at  the  season  of 
migration ;  and  a  voice  like  that  heard 
before  the  final  destruction  of  Jerusalem 
seems  to  proclaim  in  their  ears — 'arise! 
let  us  depart  hence!'  "   The  present  indi- 
cations are,  that  by  the  time  the  resour- 
ces of  Liberia  shall  have  been  developed, 
and  she  shall  have  acquired  a  capacity 
of  assimilating  large  numbers  of  our  free 
blacks,  the  pressure  upon  them  from  a 
combination  of  causes  will  have  become 
so  intense,  that  a  spontaneous  movement 
will  take  place  to  Africa,  like  that  of  the 
pauper  population  of  Europe  to  our  own 
shores.      A  million  and  a  half  of  poor 
Irishmen  migrated  from  Ireland  in  five 
years.     An  exodus  like  this  would  soon 
carry  our  400,000  free  blacks  to  Africa.f 
But  in  Virginia,  we  have  to  deal  with  a 
much  more  practical  proposition.     The 
average  increase  per  annun\  of  the  free 
negroes  in  Virginia,  from  1830  to  1840  \  / 
was  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine  and    " 
one-fifth ;  and  from  1840  to  1850,  it  was 
411  per  annum.     The  cost  of  transport- 
ing these,  at  $60  each,  would  be  $24,600. 
But  if  we  deduct  from  this  annual  in- 
crease the  number  of  those  (amounting  in 
1850  to  more  than  200)  who  were  eman- 
cipated and  allowed  to  remain  in  the  State,      / 
the   remainder  would  be  less  than  the  v 
number  actually   sent  to   Liberia  from 
Virginia  in  1854.     If,  moreover,  a  judi- 
cious discrimination  was  made  between"" 
the  old  and  infirm,  and  the  young  and 
vigorous ;  removing  the  latter,  and  suf-y 
fering  the  former  to  spend  the  barren  re 
niaind«r  of  their  days  among  us,  it  ii? 
clear,  that  all  our  free  blacks  could  be 
soon  removed,  except  a  small  and  com- 
paratively inoffensive  remnant. 


*The  present  writer,  who  has  taken  some  pains  to  inform  himself,  has  no  hesitation  in  express-  ^"""S 
ing  the  opinion  that  it  is  not  humane  to  send  emigrants  indiscriminately  to  Liberia;  and,  except  in       / 
case  of  peculiar  fitness,  he  would  not  recommend  the  sending  of  emigrants  who  have  no  means  of    / 
support  other  than  that  which  the  Colonization  Society  can  furnish. 

t  Thousands  of  dollars  are  annually  remitted  by  the  Irish  in  America  to  the! 
to  pay  for  the  transportation  of  the  latter  to  the  United  States.     A  similar  proces 
Liberia  ;  and  will  increase.    This  fact  explodes  the  objection  suggested  by  the  expense  of 
ing  our  free  blacks. 


sir  friends  in  Ireland,  / 
•ocess  was  begun  in  / 
i  expense  of  coloniz-  ' 


XII 


INTRODUCTION. 


But  it  is  said,  that  colonizationists  have 
affinities  with  Abolitionists.  This  charge 
we  unequivocally  and  indignantly  deny. 
To  refute  it,  it  is  only  necessary  to  refer 
to  the  fundamental  article  in  the  consti- 
tution of  the  Society,  which  declares  its 
exclusive  design  to  be  the  removal  of  the 
free  colored  people,  with  their  own  con- 
sent, to  Africa.  We  challenge  the  pro- 
duction of  a  single  official  act  or  senti- 
ment of  the  Virginia  Society  inconsis- 
tent with  this  principle.  /)n  the  contra- 
ry, this  Society  has  taken  every  fit  occa- 
sion of  reiterating  these  principles.*  In 
the  very  heat  of  the  abolition  debate  in 
1832,  in  the  General  Assembly,  when  so 
many  wise  men  were  swept  from  their 
moorings  by  the  anti-shivery  tide,  this 
Society  met  in  the  Capitol  at  Richmond, 
and  passed  unanimously  the  following 
resolution:  "Resolved,  That  we  deem  it 
expedient  at  this  time  to  renew  our 
pledges  strictly  to  adhere  to  that  original 
feature  of  our  constitution  which  con- 
fines its  operations  to  the  removal  of  the 
free  people  of  color  only,  with  their  own 
consent."  Again,  it  is  a  significant  fact, 
that  during  this  debate,  which,  in  the 
language  of  the  Richmond  Enquirer, 
"  had  broken  the  seals  which  had  been 
put  for  fifty  years  upon  the  most  delicate 
subject  of  State  concernment,"  the  most 
prominent  colonizationists  in  the  House, 
as  Broadnax,Gholson,  Brown,  and  others, 
were  the  leaders  on  the  anti-emancipation 
side.  At  the  same  time,  Garrison,  the 
arch-fiend  of  Abolitionism,  published  a 
book  in  which  he  maintained  and  illus- 
trated the  following  proposition  :  "  the 
Colonization  Society  is  the  friend  of  the 
slaveholder,  and  the  apologist  of  slavery: 
it  is  the  enemy  of  immediate  emancipa- 

•  tion :  it  traduces  the  free  colored  people, 
and  would  exile  them  from  their  native 
land :  it  rivets  the  chains  of  the  slave, 
and  quiets  the  conscience  of  the  slave- 
holder." In  a  tract  issued  by  the  Ame- 
rican Anti-Slavery  Society,  it  is  objected 
to  the  Colonization  Society,  that  it  had 
its  origin  in  Virginia:  "that  its  first 
President  was  Judge  Washington  of  Vir- 


ginia  :  that  its  managers  were  owners  of 
slave?:"  that  John  Randolph  said,  "it 
tended  to  secure  the  master's  property  in .. 
slaves :"  that  llenry  Clay  said,  "  I  am  a  N 
slaveholder,  and  consider  that  kind  of  1 
property  as  inviolable  as  any  other:"  that  \ 
W.  S.  Archer  said,  "it  involves  no  intru-  J 
sion  on  property,  nor  even  on  prejudice:" 
that  Henry  A.  "Wise  said,  "the  original 
principle  of  the  Society  was  friendship 
to  the  slaveholder:"  that  its  managers 
say,  "we  are  restrained  by  the  terms  of 
our  association  from  making  emancipa- 
tion an  object:  the  rights  of  masters  are 
sacred  in  our  eyes ;  and  it  would  be  as 
humane  to  throw  negroes  overboard,  as 
to  free  them  in  this  country :"  that  it^ 
first  President,  Washington,  sold  fifty  of 
his  slaves  in  New  Orleans:  that  its  se- 
cond President,  Chas.  Carroll,  bequeath- 
ed 1,000  slaves  at  his  death:  that  Hen- 
ry Clay  "left  his  slaves  in  bondage  twen- 
ty-five years,  and  then  to  be  sent  to  Li- 
beria:" that  colonization  "retards  eman- 
cipation, and  enhances  the  value  <>f 
slaves:"  and  finally,  "that  the  enemies 
of  slavery  were  the  enemies  of  coloniza- 
tion." 

V  The  Hon.  Henry  A.  "Wise,  in  1838,  thus 
graphically  contrasts  the  principl> 
Abolition  and  Colonization  :  "  The  Abo- 
lition Society  denounces  slavery  as  a  sin, 
summons  the  abstract  principles  of  right 
and  justice,  and  an  imaginary  law  of 
Heaven,  to  destroy  the  holiest  obligations 
of  political  right  and  justice,  founded 
upon  constitutional  compact :  appeals  to 
prejudices  and  passions  the  most  danger- 
ous because  the  most  fanatical ;  influen- 
ces the  public  mind  Ly  threatening  to  de- 
molish all  social  relations  ;  arouses  reli- 
gious zeal  in  a  crusade  against  peace  and 
order  and  union :  preaches  insurrection 
to  the  slave,  and  calumniates  and  curses 
the  slaveholder :  opposes  the  colonization 
of  the  free  man  of  color  in  a  land  where 
he  may  be  the  fellow  of  man  ;  and  pro- 
poses his  amalgamation  here,  in  the  land 
of  his  degradation,  with  those  to  whom 
the  association  is  abhorrent  and  revolting. 
The  Colonization  Society  sacredly  regards 


•  See  "  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization,"  pat*im. 


INTRODUCTION. 


xrrr 


slavery  as  a  civil  institution  of  the  coun- 
trv  which,  upon  the  principle  of  the  les- 
ser yielding  to  the  greater  good,  cannot 
be  attacked  by  the  law  of  humanity,  and 
must  be  sustained  from  reasons  of  poli- 
cy :  defends  all  the  eternal  principles  of 
right,  and  religiously  promotes  the  obvi- 
ous decrees  of  heaven,  while  it  faithfully 
obeys  the  laws  of  the  State :  appeals  to 
the  reason  and  enlightened  consciences 
of  men ;  and  to  that  peaceful  religion 
which  ever  interposes  to  ameliorate  the 
condition  of  all  men :  hushes  discord,  and 
by  a  charm  preserves  our  peace  by  recon- 
ciling our  moral  duties  with  our  political 
rights  and  interests :  invokes  the  love  of 
union  ;  teaches  obedience  of  servants : 
inspires  the  slaveholder  with  confidence, 
and  addresses  itself  alone  to  his  affec- 
tions :  guards  his  title  to  his  property, 
and  its  enjoyment ;  and  thus  obtains  for 
the  slave  indulgence  which  the  slackened 
cord  of  confidence  yields  without  fear;  in- 
cidentally facilitates  voluntary  emanci- 
pation by  sloughing  off  the  free  colored 
people,  always  in  the  way  of  freedom  to 
the  slave :  and  is  a  sword  to  pierce  Aboli- 
tionism. And  above  all  these  special 
benefits,  its  great  aim  is  that  which  makes 
the  grandeur  of  its  cause  rise  to  sublim- 
ity,— to  make  light  shine  out  of  darkness, 
to  colonize  a  nation  of  freemen  in  their 
fartherland,  out  of  our  kitchens  of  slaves . ' ' 
The chargeof  abolition  affinities  against 
the  Colonization  Society,  derives  its  sem- 
blance of  plausibility  from  the  fact  that 
some  colonizationists  have  advocated  the 
society  as  a  means  of  ultimately  extin- 
guishing the  institution,  and  some  sen- 
tences have  inadvertently  crept  into  the 
documents  of  the  American  Society  sug- 
gesting schemes  of  emancipation.  But 
these  were  private  opinions,  and  not  au- 
thorized expositions  of  the  principles  of 
the  society.  To  obviate  such  occurrences 


in  future,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Slaughter,  one  of 
the  delegates  from  Virginia,  at  the  last 
anniversary  of  the  American  Society,  of- 
fered the  following  resolutions,  which 
were  passed  with  but  one  dissenting  voice 
in  a  board  composed  of  representatives 
of  all  the  State  Societies.  "  Whereas, 
the  exclusive  design  of  the  Colonization 
Society,  as  declared  in  its  constitution, 
is  to  remove  the  free  colored  people  ;  and 
whereas,  in  carrying  out  this  principle  it 
has  been  ordered  that  all  suggestions 
and  schemes  of  emancipation  shall  be 
excluded  from  the  documents  of  this  so- 
ciety :  and  whereas,  it  is  necessary  to  the 
consummation  of  this  policy  that  the 
same  principle  should  be  applied  to  the 
conduct  of  our  public  meetings  ;  there- 
fore, Resolved,  That  the  executive  com- 
mittee should  have  strict  regard  to  this 
principle  in  all  arrangements  for  our  pub- 
lic meetings."  When  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia shall  succeed  in  inducing  Congress  . 
to  pass  such  conservative  resolutions,  it 
will  be  time  enough  for  a  Virginian  to 
cast  the  first  stone  at  the  Colonization 
Society.* 

We  respectfully  submit,  that  the  fore- 
going facts  and  reasonings  show  that  the  \/^ 
chief  political  objections  to  the  Coloniza- 
tion Society  have  arisen  from  a  misap- 
prehension of  its  history  and  principles, 
and  go  far  to  establish  the  conclusion  that 
the  "  Divinity  that  shapes    our    ends" 
\  has  shut  us  up  to  this  policy  as  a  poli- 
I  tical  and  social  necessity.     They  also 
/  beautifully  illustrate  the  sagacity  of  the 
framers  of  our  machine  of  self-govern- 
ment ;  who  seem  to  have  foreseen  all  the 
\  results  of  its  wonderful  workings,  and 
<  provided  such  guards  as  would  best  tend 
I  to  give  it  "  perpetual  motion.f 

What  a  blessing  it  would  be  to  our 

distracted  country,  if  all  the  American 

•people  would  adopt  the  views  of  Jefferson, 


*  It  might  be  added,  that  the  American  is  not  the  Virginian  Society,  and  that  the  latter  is  no 
more  responsible  for  the  acts  of  the  former,  than  the  State  of  Virginia  is  responsible  for  the  acts  of 
the  Congress  of  ihe  United  States. 

t  If  any  scheme  of  policy  is  thoroughly  Virginian,  it  is  the  scheme  of  African  Colonization.  We 
have  seen  it  suggested  by  Jefferson  ;  its  nurture  by  Monroe,  Madison  and  Marshall ;  by  the  Gene 
ral  Assemblies  of  1800,  1802, 1804,  1805  and  1816.  If  our  space  sufficed,  we  would  adduce  the  acts 
of  Assembly  iii  1825  and  1828 ;  of  1S33, 1849  and  1853;  and  cite  the  commendations  of  Govs.  Tjler, 
McDowell,  Gilmer,  Floyd,  Pleasants,  Smith,  Johnson  and  Wise,  and  of  other  eminent  Virginian.*. 


XIV 


INTRODUCTION. 


Madison,  Monroe  and  Marshall,  and  rally 
round  the  Colonization  Society,  as  the  only 
rational  and  peaceful  solution  of  the  v  .•:<>< 
question  of  Africa  in  America.  We  have 
no  hope  of  extremists  on  either  side ;  but 
surely  the  majority  of  the  American 
people  are  rational  and  patriotic  men ; 
and  we  would  invoke  in  the  name  of  that 
constellation  of  great  men  who  illumi- 
nate our  records,  all  who  respect  them- 
themselves,  who  respect  the  rights  of 
persons  and  of  property,  the  rights  of  the 
States  and  the  union  of  the  States,  to 
come  together  upon  this  conservative  and 
constitutional  platform.  Abolitionists  are 
a  one-idea  party,  demented  about  an  ab- 
straction, without  the  slightest  reference 
to  the  modifications  which  every  princi- 
ple undergoes  in  practical  and  complica- 
ted application.  They  are  compelled  to 
admit  that  abstractions  are  often  wholly 
reversed  in  practice.  You  may  hear  them 
urging  that,  whilst  "  thou  shall  not  kill" 
is  a  true  law  in  morals  and  religion,  yet 
killing  may  become  an  imperative  duty 
in  certain  circumstances.  "  And  yet 
these  men  seize  hold  of  the  abstraction 
that  all  men  are  free  and  equal,  and  run 
it  like  a  ploughshare  through  society ;" 
releasing  the  wife  from  the  husband,  the 
citizen  from  the  sovereign,  and  the  ser- 
vant from  the  master ;  until  humanity, 
which  had  been  washed  in  the  baptism 
of  Christianity,  shall  again  wallow  in  the 
mire  of  barbarian  licentiousness.  "  They 
run  their  fiery  abstraction  into  the  leaves 
of  the  bible ;  and  if  it  testify  not  to  the 
one  idea,  it  must  be  burnt  like  a  witch." 
Again,  the  ungodly  constitutions  by  which 
slavery  is  tolerated  must  be  torn  down, 
and  society  be  reconstructed  upon  free 
and  socialistic  principles. 

Now,  to  meet  and  overthrow  these  mis- 
chievous fallacies,  it  is  not  necessary  to 
take  our  position  at  the  opposite  extreme." 
We  need  not  deny  the  unity  of  the  hu- 
man race,  and,  excluding  the  negro  from 
the  pale  of  the  human  family,  degrade 
him  to  the  level  of  the  monkey,  thus 
contradicting  the  word  of  God,  which 
says  that  He  "  has  made  of  one  blood  all 
the  nations  of  men,  to  dwell  upon  alltho 
face  of  the  earth."  Neither  is  it  MOM- 
sary  to  pour  contempt  upon  all  abstrac- 


tions. Truth,  justice,  God  himself,  arc 
abstractions;  and  these  have  their  pro 
per  place  ill  the  world,  and  their  proper 
functions  in  moral  reasoning.  The  max- 
im in  media  tutissimits  ibis  applies  here. 
The  truth,  as  we  apprehend,  will  be  found 
in  a  brief  and  perspicuous  exposition 
contained'  in  a  late  letter  to  ourselves  by 
the  most  profound  and  comprehensive 
thinker  in  Virginia.  He  says  :  "When 
Christ  came  into  the  world,  it  was  full  of 
kingdoms.  That  these  should  be  held 
together  was  indispensable  to  the  exis- 
tence and  progress  <if  society.  Society 
cannot  advance  j» •/•  W////H;  it  must  ad- 
vance by  deirn-e^.  So,  also,  it  must  bo 
improved  for  the  most  part  by  a  power 
operating  from  iritfiin.  External  ameli- 
orations which  outrun  the  internal,  do  no 
good;  witness  the  South-American  re- 
publics,  and  the  history  of  France.  To 
improve  society,  we  must  plant  the  prin- 
ciple of  improvement  within  it,  and  let 
it  leisurely  and  without  violence  work 
itself  out  to  the  surface;  amending  last 
of  all  the  municipal  arrangements.  This 
is  the  general  rule.  Now,  Christ  came  to 
set  up  a  kingdom  not  of  this  world.  It 
was  not  of  the  same  class  with  existing 
kingdoms  ;  it  was  not  to  be  their  rival 
nor  their  fellow.  It  was  to  be  compre- 
hensive of  them  all ;  taking  possession  of 
them,  and  leaving  them  nil  their  exter- 
nal features  and  peculiarities,  except  as 
these  might  be  grai/mtl/i/  and  .-*//<•/<//// 
modified  by  its  permeating  and  all-per- 
vading influence.  Among  these  external 
relations,  I  set  down  war,  the  political 
relations  of  men,  domestic  slavery,  and, 
in  a  certain  sense,  divorce.  Now,  in  re- 
gard to  these,  there  is  a  certain  ideal 
state  which  all  would  call  perfection,  ami 
which  may  be  realized,  perhaps,  in  the 
Millennial  times,  and  in  the  meantime 
to  be  approximated.  This  state  we  would 
call  absolute  right,  and  it  consists  in  the 
total  removal  of  some  of  the  things  named, 
and  the  modification  of  others.  To  bring 
about  this  state  of  things,  so  far  as  the 
present  time  is  concerned,  was  the  ob- 
ject of  the  setting  up  of  Christ's  king- 
dom. And  that  object  will  not  fail.  Jt 
may  tarry,  but  it  will  come  at  last.  But 
how  is  Christianity  to  realize  in  the  o/7?/>//, 


INTRODUCTION. 


xv 


this  beautiful  and  infinitely  desirable 
ideal  ?  It  must  not  precipitate  matters  ; 
that  would  prove  disastrous.  It  would 
be  like  plucking  up  the  tares  before  the 
proper  time.  As  the  defects  and  abuses 
of  society  referred  to  are  governmental, 
to  assail  them  directly  would  be  to  bring 
the  kingdom  of  Christ  in  direct  collision 
with  the  kingdom  of  this  world ;  which 
would  be  most  pernicious  several  ways. 
Humanly  speaking,  it  would  exterminate 
the  church  of  Christ ;  for  men  would 
fight  against  it  without  restraint  of  con- 
science ;  looking  at  it  as  a  mere  earthly 
interest.  Aside  from  this,  the  effect  upon 
the  world  itself  would  be  most  blinding : 
Christ's  kingdom  is  not  wealth,  nor  poli- 
tical sagacity,  nor  military  prowess  ;  but 
righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Above  all,  it  would  set  aside 
those  positive  precepts  which  Christ  has 
given  in  regard  to  the  powers  that  may 
be  over  us.  In  all  this,  Christianity  is 
regarding  the  expedient.  Just  as  divorce 
was  allowed  to  the  Jews,  though  the  true 
idea,  the  right,  in  regard  to  marriage, 
was  otherwise;  so  Christianity  forbears 
to  press  things  which  it  hopes  to  see  real- 
ized hereafter  in  the  world.  In  fixing 
her  eye  on  the  right,  she  maintains  a  high 
aim,  and  makes  provision  for  progress  : 
in  regulating  the  pursuit  of  that  object 
by  the  expedient,  she  has  a  wise  refer- 
ence to  the  nature  of  man  and  the  condi- 
tion of  the  world,  as  fallen ;  and  takes 
care  that  the  progress  shall  not  be  check- 
ed. Right  gives  an  onward  motion  to  the 
car ;  expediency  keeps  it  from  running 
off  the  track.  Each  is  indispensable  in 
its  place ;  neither  can  be  omitted :  nor 
can  their  order  and  mutual  relations  be 
interfered  with  without  consequences 
which  self-love,  benevolence  and  con- 
science mast  recoil  from.  To  present  the 
subject  properly  would  require  much  ex- 
planation and  expansion ;  and  if  I  was 
writing  to  one  who  could  read  what  I 
have  written  in  a  captious  spirit,  I  would 
add  many  limitations,  checks  and  illus- 
trations." These  are  words  of  wisdom. 
They  are  like  apples  of  gold  in  pictures 
of  silver.  If  they  could  be  incorporated 
into  the  creed  of  the  American  people, 
they  would  explode  into  air  the  ultraisms 


in  which  our  land  is  so  fruitful.  Politi- 
cal, ecclesiastical  and  socialistic  agitators 
would  learn  the  folly  of  attempting  to  re- 
alize in  the  actual  of  this  "  day  and  gen- 
eration," the  beautiful  ideal  of  the  mil- 
lenial  state.  The  development  of  human- 
ity cannot  be  forced  as  gardener's  force 
plants  in  a  hot-house.  Normal  develop- 
ments are  more  gradual.  The  application 
of  these  principles  to  the  subject  is  plain. 
If  slavery  be  an  evil  it  cannot  be  cured 
in  a  generation  without  inflicting  greater 
evils.  External  ameliorations  which 
outrun  the  internal  are  mischievous.  Let 
us  rather  adore  that  God  whose  woun- 
drous  alchemy  "  out  of  evil  educes  good." 
Let  New  Englanders  ponder  the  words  of 
Webster  when  speaking  on  this  subject 
he  said,  "  I  sometimes  contemplate  with 
amazement  and  adoration  events  which 
have  occurred  through  the  cupidity  and 
criminality  of  men,  designed  nevertheless 
by  their  Creator  to  work  out  great  ends 
of  beneficence."  And  Virginians  should 
heed  the  words  of  Jefferson,  when  he  said 
"  In  the  disposition  of  these  unfortunate 
people  the^  first  rational  object  to  be  dis- 
tinctly kept  in  view  is  the  establishment 
of  a  colony  on  the  coast  of  Africa  which 
may  introduce  among  the  Aborigines  the 
arts  of  civilization  and  science  and  thus 
render  them  more  good  than  evil  in  the 
long  run." 

What  is  to  be  the  destiny  of  the  entire 
black  population  in  America  we  cannot 
tell.  The  statistics  of  the  census  show 
that  they  are  gravitating  towards  the  trop- 
ics in  a  current  as  steady  as  the  flow  of 
the  Mississippi.  Many  of  them  will 
doubtless  long  linger  in  the  land  of  the 
sugar-cane  and  cotton-plant.  With  the 
Anglo  Saxon  for  their  guide,  they  may 
pass  the  Isthmus  and  spread  over  the 
valley  of  the  Amazon,  or  like  the  crew 
of  the  fabled  Phantom  ship,  they  may  be 

Wanderers  o'er  eternity, 
Whose  bark  rides  on  and  on, 
And  anchored  ne'er  shall  be. 

That  the  destination  of  many  of  them  ia 
Africa,  we  have  no  doubt.  In  the  mean 
time  we  are  comforted  by  the  conviction 
that  their  bondage  here  has  been  a  bless- 
ing to  them  and  is  fraught  with  blessings 


xvi 


INTRODUCTION. 


to  their  fatherland.  In  the  energetic 
language  of  H.  A.  "Wise,  "  however  crim- 
inal may  have  been  the  traders  who  from 
lust  of  gold  brought  them  here,  the  slaves 
in  the  United  States  are  in  bodily  COM- 
fort,  civilization,  Christianity  and  actual 
personal  freedom,  worth  all  the  princi- 
palities, powers  and  people  of  Africa ; 
and  slavery  in  the  United  States  has 
been  the  most  efficient  missionary  to  the 
Heathen  in  the  last  two  centuries.  Not 
by  going  to  Africa  and  rearing  altars 
there  at  first,  but  by  bringing  their 
fathers  here  and  preparing  priests  to  go 
back  to  Africa  and  bear  the  Christian 
torches  through  the  darkness  of  her 
night.  The  black  missionary  to  black 
Africa,  like  to  like.  And  the  Colony  of 


Liberia  coming  directly  out  of  slavery  is 
another  trophy  far  exceeding  that  of  any 
similar  moral  enterprise  of  the  age. 
These  results  are  worth  all  the  suffer- 
ings and  burdens  of  their  savage  ances- 
tors, who  would  have  expired  without 
bearing  fruits  meet  to  repair  their  coun- 
try and  race  for  the  evil  out  of  which 
has  come  good  enough  to  justify  the 
ways  of  God  to  the  master  and  to  the 
slave.  The  destiny  of  the  black  popula- 
tion of  the  United  States  is  towards  Af- 
rica, my  authority  is  God's  providence 
against  futile  and  impious  attempts  of 
human  Babel  builders  upon  earth.  His 
servants  had  better  be  about  their  mas- 
ter's work." 


INDEX 


TO  THE 


HISTORY  OF  AFRICAN  COLONIZATION  IN  VIRGINIA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

History  of  African  Colonization  from  its  first 
suggestion  by  Thomas  Jefferson  in  1776, 
through  all  its  modifications  by  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  of  Virginia  in  1800,  1801, 
1802,  1805,  and  1816,  to  its  full  develop- 
ment in  the  American  Colonization  Society 
at  Washington  in  1817,  including  the  cor- 
respondence of  Jefferson,  President  of  the 
U.  S.,  with  Monroe  and  Page,  governors  of 
Virginia,  Henry  Clay,  Frank  Key,  Fenton 
Mercer,  Dr.  Findley,  Bishop  Meade,  Wil- 
liam H.  Crawford,  John  Randolph  of  Roa- 
noke,  John  Taylor  of  Caroline,  and  An- 
drew Jackson. 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  agency  of  President  Monroe  in  the 
plantation  of  Liberia — Rev.  Messrs.  Bur- 
gess and  Mills  exploring  tour — Mercer 
and  Meade's  mission — Act  of  Congress 
prohibiting  slave  trade  in  1808 — Recap- 
tured Africans  carried  into  the  State  of 
Georgia  and  sold — Bishop  Meade's  mis- 
sion to  Georgia — William  H.  Crawford's 
advice — Agency  of  Mercer  and  Floyd, 
representatives  from  Virginia  in  passing 
act  of  Congress  of  1819 — bearing  of  that 
Act  upon  Colonization — Seeming  Provi- 
dential interventions  in  bringing  about  co- 
operation of  General  Government  and 
Colonization  Society  in  planting  Colony 
of  Liberia — Rev.  Mr.  Bacon — Captains 
Stockton  and  Spence's  kind  offices  under 
Monroe's  orders  in  choosing  site  and  pro- 
moting establishment  of  the  Colony — Dr. 
Ayres  U.  S.  agent — Chief  town  of  Libe- 
ria called  Monrovia,  after  President  Mon- 
roe. 

CHAPTER  III. 

Era  of  local  societies  in  Virginia,  auxiliary 
to  American  Colonization  Society  of  Rich- 


mond and  Manchester,  Judge  Marshall 
President — Other  officers — Officers  of  So- 
cieties in  Norfolk,  Fredericksburg,  Peters- 
burg, Alexandria,  Isle  of  Wight,  Hamp- 
ton, Sussex,  Albemarle,  King  William, 
Dinwiddie,  Amherst,  Berkeley,  Nanse- 
mond,  Buckingham,  Nelson,  Fluvanna, 
Harpers'  Ferry,  Wheeling,  Frederick,  Ka- 
nawha,  Augusta,  Powhatan,  Loudoun, 
Charlestown,  Shepherdstown,  Rocking- 
ham,  Lynchburg,  Mecklenberg,  Campbell, 
Bedford,  Rockbridge,  &c — Meetings  of 
Richmond  Society  in  1824,  1825,  1826— 
Reports — Addresses  of  Robert  G.  Scott, 
Mr.  Rutherfoord,  John  Y.  Mason,  Judge 
Upshur,  &c. — Memorial  to  General  As- 
sembly— Appropriation  of  §800  for  bene- 
fits of  colonists  by  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia — General  Blackburn's  speech — 
Rockbridge  Society — Memorial  of  Powha- 
tan Society — Efforts  to  divert  emigration 
to  Hayti — Comparison  of  Hayti  with  Li- 
beria. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Richmond  auxiliary  changed  into  indepen- 
dent State  Society,  15th  Dec'r,  1828— 
Report — Resolutions  of  Mr.  Rutherfoord 
and  Wm.  H.  Fitzhugh,  Judge  May  of  Pe- 
tersburg— Constitution  of  Colonization 
Society  of  Virginia,  Judge  Marshall  pres- 
ident, other  officers — Petition  from  Peters- 
burg Society  and  Colonization  Society  of 
Virginia,  presented  to  Legislature  by  John 
F.  May  and  John  Rutherfoord,  &c. — Re- 
port of  Committee  in  General  Assembly, 
by  John  F.  May,  its  chairman — Speeches 
of  Messrs.  Rives,  Harrison,  Toler  and 
Mosby  before  Lynchburg  Society,  of  N. 
M.  Blackburn  at  Fredericksburg,  of  Bish- 
op Meade  at  Winchester,  and  Rev.  A. 
Broadus  in  King  William,  Alexandria,  &c. 
— Addresses  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Harrison, 


XVIII 


INDEX. 


Walton  and  Cornelius,  and  Mr.  Woart — 
Augusta  Society — Death  of  D.  Sheffey — 
Death  of  Judge  Washington  and  W.  H. 
Fitzhugh — Speech  of  Gen.  Walter  Jones 
and  G.  W.  P.  Custis. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Rise  of  Northern  Abolitionism — Coloniza- 
tion and  Abolition  antagonistic — Doings  of 
Abolitionists  —  Mercenary  pamphlets  — 
Gov.  Giles'  Message — Richmond  Enqui- 
rer— Letter  of  H.  Gray  Otis  of  Boston  to 
the  Governor  of  Virginia — Wm.  L.  Gar- 
rison— Relation  between  Abolitionists  and 
Southampton  Insurrection,  &c. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Gov.  Floyd's  message  to  Legislature  about 
Southampton  Insurrection  —  Richmond 
Enquirer — Debate  on  Abolition  and  Free 
Negroes  in  House  of  Delegates — Bill  pass- 
ed by  House  of  Delegates  and  rejected  by 
Senate — Sketch  of  Debate — Ayes  and 
Noes. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Caucus  and  results  of  Debate  on  Emancipa- 
tion in  General  Assembly  in  1831-32 — 
Sketch  of  public  opinion  on  Slavery — The 
course  of  Delegates  from  Virginia  in  Con- 
vention— First  draft  of  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence— Letters  of  Jefferson,  Madi- 
ison  and  Marshall  on  Colonization — Views 
of  B.  Watkins  Leigh  and  Professor  Dew, 
of  William  and  Mary — Annual  Meeting 
of  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia  in 
1832 — Promulgation  of  its  Principles  and 
Designs — Judge  Marshall,  John  Tyler, 
Andrew  Stevenson  and  Wm.  S.  Archer 
elected  delegates  to  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society — Speech  of  Mr.  Archer — 
Richmond  Enquirer  and  Whig — The  only 
immediate  result  of  debate  on  abolition  in 
1832  was  a  more  stringent  law  on  Slaves 
— A  lesson  to  Abolitionists. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Reaction  in  public  sentiment  on  the  subject 
of  emancipation — Dew's  pamphlet  and 
Harrison's  article — American  Quarterly — 
Professor  Dew's  argument — The  main  ob- 
ject in  changing  public  opinion — His  view 
of  Colonization  Society  erroneous — Its  true 


design  set  forth  in  its  Constitution — Any 
other  views  only  private  opinion — Report 
of  committee  of  House  of  Delegates  on 
Colonization,  February  1833— Mr.  Gil- 
mer's  amendment — Passage  of  act  mak- 
ing appropriation  to  the  Society — Ayes 
and  Noes — Society  encouraged — R.  G. 
Scott's  circular — Anniversary  of  Bedford 
Colonization  Society  —  New  Society  in 
Mecklenburg  —  Extract  from  Richmond 
Whig — Master  scheme  of  age. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Sayings  and  doings  of  Abolitionists — Their 
fusions  ever  against  Colonization  Society 
— Protest  against  Colonixation  Society  in 
England,  signed  by  Wilberforce,  Daniel 
O'Connell  and  others — Anti-Slavery  tract 
assigning  objections  to  the  Colonization 
Society — Meetings  in  the  South  and  at  the 
North  against  incendiary  doings  of  Aboli- 
tionists— Course  of  Rev.  Mr.  Tracy  of 
of  Boston — Revenue  of  Society  in  Virgi- 
nia— Conservative  course  of  Colonization 
Society  of  Virginia — Mr.  Maxwell's  and 
Edward  Colston's  resolutions — Withdraw- 
al of  Gerrit  Smith  from  Colonization  So- 
ciety, because  he  could  not  pervert  it  to 
anti-slavery  purposes. 

CHAPTER  X- 

Reverend  Mr.  McKenney's  agency — Young 
Men's  Colonization  Society  of  Richmond 
— Anti-Abolition  resolution  of  Coloniza- 
tion Society  of- Virginia — Death  of  Chief 
Justice  Marshall,  president  of  Coloni/a- 
tion  Society  of  Virginia — Wm.  H.  McFar- 
land's  resolution  and  address  on  the  occa- 
sion— Eulogy  of  Rev.  Wm.  Atkinson  on 
the  great  Virginian  Colonizationists,  Jef- 
ferson, Madison,  Monroe,  Marshall,  Fitz- 
hugh, and  Brodnax — Death  of  Jas.  Madi- 
son, President  of  the  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society — Tribute  to  him  by  the  Soci- 
ety— Letter  of  Mrs.  Madison,  &.c — John 
Tyler  elected  President  of  Colonization 
Society  of  Virginia — Names  of  Vice-Pres- 
idents  and  managers,  &.c — Rev.  C.  W. 
Andrews  elected  agent  —  Colonization 
meeting  in  Richmond  —  Mr.  Andrews' 
resolutions — Addresses  of  Rev.  Drs.  Plun>- 
mer  and  Jeter. 


INDEX. 


XIX 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Petition  to  Legislature  for  amendment  of  act 
of  1833 — Report  of  select  committee  Ja- 
nuary 30,  1837,  by  Mr.  Watkins— Extract 
from  Fredericksburg  Arena  —  Petitions 
from  Augusta  and  Rockingham — Rich- 
mond Whig  —  Annual  meeting,  1837 — 
Hall  of  House  of  Delegates  crowded — 
Judge  May  presided — Mr.  Andrew's  Re- 
port— Speeches  of  Messrs.  Marshall  of 
Fauquier,  Randolph  of  Albemarle,  Ander- 
son of  Botetourt,  Smith  of  Culpeper  and 
Maxwell  of  Norfolk — Rev.  Mr.  Gurley 's 
proposition  to  plant  a  colony  to  be  called 
New  Virginia. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Events  of  1837 — New  Virginia — Petitions 
from  Shenandoah — Report  of  Committee 
on  Finance  by  Mr.  Rives — Annual  Meet- 
ing in  1838 — Address  of  President  Tyler 
— Mr.  Andrew's  Report — Speech  of  Gen. 
Bayly  of  Accomac,  and  of  Messrs.  Rives, 
Baxter,  Maxwell  and  Henry  A.  Wise. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

House  of  Delegates,  and  petitions  for  amend- 
ment of  Act  of  1833 — Rev.  Messrs.  An- 
drews and  Balch — Annual  Meeting  of  22d 
February,  1839 — Hall  crowded  to  over- 
flowing— Hon.  John  Tyler  in  the  chair,  J. 
C.  Crane,  secretary — Speeches  of  Wm. 
Smith  of  Culpeper,  B.  H.  Smith  of  Ka- 
nawha,  J.  T.  Anderson  and  T.  W.  Gilmer 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Balch — Elliott  Crepon — 
Speeches  of  William  C.  Rives,  Rev.  Mr. 
Gurley  and  Mr.  Morehead — Mr.  Knight's 
agency — Sermon  of  Rev.  James  Craik — 
Correspondence  between  Judge  Upshur 
secretary  of  State  and  Mr.  Fox  British 
Minister — Tyler,  Wise  and  Rives  dele- 
gates to  American  Colonization  Society — 
Annual  Meeting  of  1845 — Gov.  McDow- 
ell's address— Interregnuum— Extract  from 
American  Repository — Reorganization  of 
Colonization  Society  of  Virginia  in  1849, 
Mr.  McFarland  in  the  chair — Speeches  of 
Bishop  John?,  Messrs.  Busche,  Maxwell, 
Reeve,  James  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tinsley — 
R.  B.  Boiling  elected  President — Other 
officers — Declension  of  Mr.  Boiling — Gov. 
Floyd  elected  President  and  accepts — 
Rev.  Wm.  Atkison  elected  gen'l  agent — 


Rev.  Mr.  Baily's  memorial — Rev'd  Mr. 
Slaughter's  address  to  Legislature — Mes- 
srs. T.  H.  Ellis,  J.  C.  Crane  and  F.  James 
committee,  and  Rev.  Mr.  McLain's  state- 
ment and  address  to  Board  of  Managers — 
Annual  meeting  in  1st  Presbyterian  church 
Rev.  Mr.  Moore's — Gov.  Floyd  in  the 
chair — Letters  from  Henry  Clay,  R.  W. 
Thompson  and  Joseph  R.  Underwood — 
Speech  of  Mr.  Latrobe — Rev.  P.  Slaugh- 
ter, General  agent — Passage  of  Mr.  Dor- 
man's  bill  making  appropriation  to  Colo- 
nization Society — Definition  of  Society's 
position  on  subject  of  slavery. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Annual  meeting  of  1851 — Mr.  Slaughter's 
report  received  by  secretary,  Mr.  B.  Mi- 
nor— Vote  of  thanks  to  general  agent — 
Mr.  R.  G.  Scott's  resolution — Speeches  of 
John  Janney,  Tazewell  Taylor,  Judge 
Moncure,  Mr.  Dorman  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Chilton  and  Davie — Rev.  Mr.  Starr  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Bailey's  services  acknowledged 
Annual  meeting  of  1852 — Gov.  Floyd  in 
the  chair — Speeches  of  Rev.  T.  V.  Moore, 
Rev.  Mr.  Read,  Bishop  Payne  of  Africa, 
and  John  Howard,  Esq.-Rev.  Mr.  Tinsley— 
Mr.  Howard's  Memorial — Establishment 
of  Colonizationist  as  organ  of  Colonization 
Society  of  Virginia — Emigrants  and  rev- 
nue — Mr.  Slaughter's  documents  fer  the 
Society,  containing  Mr.  Howard's  memo- 
rial— Correspondence  with  officers  of  the 
Navy  and  sketch  of  African  Coloniza- 
tion— Annual  meeting  of  1853,  Mr.  Mc- 
Farland in  the  chair — Mi.  Slaughter's  re- 
port— Speech  of  Hon.  Mr.  Thompson  of 
Indiana — Debate  in  House  of  Delegates 
on  free  negroes — Divers  schemes  propos- 
ed— Bill  reported  from  Committee  of 
Courts  of  Justice,  by  T.  B.  Miller— Pas- 
sage of  the  bill,  copy  of  it — Mr.  John  M. 
Speed's  services — Members  of  Coloniza- 
tion Board — Gov.  Johnson's  Message — 
Workings  of  the  law — Annual  Meeting, 
1855  —  Mr.  Slaughter's  statement — 
Speeches  of  Rev.  Dr.  Doggett,  Rev.  Mr. 
Gurley,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Burrows  —  Mr. 
Slaughter's  resolutions — Rev.  Dr.  Lee's 
speech — Revenue  and  emigrants — Elec- 
tion of  Col.  John  Rutherfoord  as  Presi- 
dent, other  officers. 


XX 


INDEX. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Africa  and  America — Their  Providential  re- 
lation— The  lesson  it  teaches — African 
Colonization  a  great  missionary  scheme — 
Remarkable  agreement  of  Churches  upon 
the  subject — Proceedings  of  Churches  in 
Virginia — The  failure  of  white  missions 
before  the  settlement  of  Liberia — Sierra 
Leone  —  Wesleyan,  Baptist,  Episcopal, 
Presbyterian  and  other  stations  within  and 
without  the  limits  of  Liberia — Testimony 
of  Bishop  Scott  of  Methodist,  and  of  Bish- 
op Payne  of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Bowen  of  Baptist  church. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Geography  of  Liberia,  Montesudo, 
Grand  Bassa  and  Sinou  counties,  Monro- 
via, Georgia,  Caldwell,  Virginia,  Ken- 
tucky, Millsburg— The  St.  Paul's,  Junk, 
Stockton  and  St.  John's  rivers — Marshall, 
Bassa,  Edina,  Upper  and  Lower  Bucha- 
nan, Bexley,  Sinou,  Greenville,  Readville, 
Lexington,  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Cape 
Palmas,  Harper,  Cavalla,  &c — Captains 


Lynch  and  Foote  of  the  U.  S.  Navy — Dr. 
Lugenbeel,  Rev.  Messrs.  Pinney  and  Gur- 
ley — Cavalla  Messenger. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Testimony  of  eye  witnesses  of  Liberia — 
Rev.  Messrs.  Gurley  and  Pinney,  and  Dr. 
Lugenbeel — Of  the  Missionaries — Of  the 
Navy  officers,  Commodores  Stockton,  Per- 
ry, Mayo,  Lavalette,  Read,  Crepon  and 
Gregory  —  Commanders  Lynch,  Foote, 
Marston,  Rudd,  and  Purser  Bradford — 
Comparison  of  Colonization  of  Virginia 
and  Liberia,  and  of  our  Southern  and 
Western  States  and  Liberia. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

A  chain  of  eminent  Virginian  authorities 
who  have  expressed  opinions  in  favor  of 
the  Colonization  Society,  running  through 
the  whole  course  of  our  History  from  1776 
to  the  present  time,  including  men  of  all 
parties  in  politics,  and  all  creeds  in  reli- 
gion. 


THE  VIRGINIAN 

HISTORY  OF  AFRICAN  COLONIZATION. 


CHAPTER  I. 

\V'ho  knows  not  that  truth  is  next  to  the  Al- 
mighty. Give  her  but  room  and  do  not  bind  her. 
Lot  her  and  falsehood  grapple.  Who  ever  knew 
truth  to  be  put  to  the  worst  in  a  free  and  open 
encounter. — Milton. 

History  of  Colonization  from  the  first  sugges- 
tion of  the  idea  by  Thomas  Jefferson,  in 
1776.  Through  all  its  modifications  by 
the  General  Assemblies  of  Virginia  in  1800, 
1802,  1804  and  1816,  until  its  full  devel- 
opment in  the  American  Colonization  Soci- 
ety, at  Washington,  in  1817 — including  the 
correspondence  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  with  Monroe  and 
Page,  Governors  of  Virginia. 

It  is  curious  to  see  how  an  idea,  thrown 
out  by  a  great  mind,  goes  on  revolving  in  the 
world,  setting  other  minds  to  work  and  from 
the  contact  receiving  new  directions  and  im- 
pulses, until  it  expands  into  a  scheme  of 
policy  deeply  affecting  the  fate  not  merely 
of  individuals,  but  of  continents  and  races 
of  men.  Just  as  we  have  seen  a  small  stream 
of  water  springing  from  a  mountain  side  and 
flowing  at  first  with  a  force  barely  sufficient 
to  overcome  the  pebbles  it  meets  in  its  way, 
yet  after  receiving  tributaries  from  other 
sources,  acquires  a  resistless  might  which 
sweeps  away  all  opposing  obstacles,  and 
mingles  with  the  world  of  waters  whose  tides 
beat  upon  every  shore. 

The  scheme  of  African  Colonization  is 
such  an  idea.  Springing  from  the  ger- 
minant  genius  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  it  has 
gradually  made  its  way  into  legislative  halls 
and  Christian  churches,  and  is  now  attract- 
ing the  attention  and  challenging  the  regard 
of  the  civilized  world. 

In  the  General  Assembly  of  1776,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  revise  the  laws  of 
the  State.  This  committee  consisted  of  Tho. 
Jefferson,  Edmund  Pendleton,  Geo.  Wythe, 


George  Mason  and  Ludwell  Lee.  Mr.  Jel- 
ferson  tells  us  that  he  prepared  an  amend- 
ment to  be  submitted  to  this  committee  pro- 
posing a  comprehensive  plan  of  Colonization. 
The  committee,  we  believe,  did  not  report 
until  1785,  when  Mr.  Jefferson  was  in  France 
and  Pendleton  and  Wythe  upon  the  bench. 
The  seed  of  Colonization  was  nevertheless 
sown  and  soon  began  to  germinate.  In  1787, 
Dr.  Thornton  (of  Virginia)  published  an  ad- 
dress to  the  free  negroes,  offering  to  lead 
them  in  person  to  Africa. 

This  being  the  suggestion  of  a  private  in- 
dividual, had  no  visible  results.  The  subject 
was  still  working  unseen  in  the  minds  of 
men,  and  after  the  lapse  of  thirteen  years,  it 
reappeared  in  the  public  councils.  It  is  an 
interesting  study  to  trace  it  through  all  its 
phases,  as  it  gradually  wrought  itself  out  into 
a  definite  form.  This  we  are  happily  ena- 
bled to  do  by  public  documents,  the  first  of 
which  is  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Dele- 
gates, which  was  passed  almost  unanimously 
and  in  the  following  words  : 

In  the  House  of  Delegates,  December  31,  1800. 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested 
to  correspond  with  the  President  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  on  the  subject  of  purchasing  lands 
without  the  limits  of  this  State,  whither  per- 
sons obnoxious  to  the  laws  or  dangerous  to 
the  peace  of  society  may  be  removed. 

A  copy  from  the  House  of  Delegates. 

WILLIAM  WIRT,  Clerk  H.  D. 

This  resolution  is  somt  what  obscure.  The 
House  of  Delegates  seemed  to  hesitate  in 
giving  full  expression  to  all  that  was  in  their 
minds.  It  needs  a  key  to  unlock  its  mean- 
ing. The  Letters  of  Jefferson  and  Monroe, 
and  the  explanation  of  the  House  in  1802 
supplies  this  key. 

Mr  Monroe,  being  then  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  compliance  with  the  foregoing  reso- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


lution,  addressed  the  following  letter  to  Mr. 


Jefferson, 
States  : 


then    President   of    the    United 


Richmond,  June  15,  1801. 
SIR  :  I  enclose  you  a  resolution  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Commonwealth,  of 
the  last  session,  by  which  it  is  made  my 
duty  to  correspond  with  you  on  the  subject 
of  obtaining,  by  purchase,  lands  without  the 
limits  of  this  Stale  to  which  persons  obnox- 
ious to  the  laws  or  dangerous  to  the  peace 
of  society  maybe  removed.  This  resolution 
was  produced  by  the  conspiracy  of  the  slaves 
which  took  place  in  this  city  and  neighbour- 
hood last  year,  and  is  applicable  to  that  de- 
scription only.  The  idea  of  such  an  acqui-i- 
tion  was  suggested  by  motives  of  humanity, 
it  being  intended  by  tnean-»  thereof  to  pro- 
vide an  alternate  mode  of  punishment  for 
those  described  by  the  resolution,  who,  under 
the  existing  law,  might  be  doomed  to  sutler 
death.  It  was  deemed  more  humane,  and, 
it  is  hoped,  would  be  found  in  practice  not 
less  expedient,  to  transport  such  offenders 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  State. 


to  decide.  But,  if  the  more  enlarged  con- 
struction of  the  resolution  is  deemed  the 
true  one,  it  furnishes,  in  my  opinion,  a  strong 
additional  motive  why  the  Legislature,  in 
disposing  of  this  great  concern,  should  com- 
mand an  alternative  of  places.  As  soon  as 
the  mind  emerges,  in  contemplating  the  sub- 
ject, beyond  the  contracted  scale  of  provi- 
ding a  mode  of  punishment  for  offenders, 
vist  and  interesting  objects  present  them- 
selves to  view.  It  is  impossible  not  to  in- 
volve in  it  the  condition  oftho.se  people,  the 
embarrassment  they  have  already  occasioned 
us,  and  are  still  likely  to  subject  us  to.  We 
perceive  an  existing  evil,  which  commenced 
under  our  colonial  system,  with  which  we 
are  not  properly  chargeable,  or,  if  at  all,  not 
in  the  present  degree:  and  we  acknowledge 
the  extreme  dilliculty  in  remedying  it.  .V. 
this  point  the  mind  rests  with  suspense,  and 
surveys  with  anxiety  obstacles  which  be- 
come more  serious  as  we  approach  them.  It 
is  in  vain  for  the  Legislature  to  deliberate  on 
the  subject,  in  the  extent  of  which  it  \n  capa- 
ble, with  a  view  to  adopt  the  system  of  pol- 
icy whirli  appears  to  it  most  wise  and  just. 


It  seems  to  be  the  more  obvious  intention1  if  it  has  not  the  means  of  executing  it.  To 
of  the  Legislature,  as  inferred  from  the  reso-  lead  to  a  sound  decision,  and  make  the  re- 
lution,  to  make  the  proposed  acquisition  of;  suit  a  happy  one,  it  is  necessary  that  the 
land  in  the  vacant  Western  territory  of  the 'field  of  practicable  expedients  be  opened  \^ 
United  State* :  but  it  duet  not  appear  to  me  its  election  on  the  widest  possible  scale, 
to  preclude  one  without  the  limits  of  the  I'nder  this  view  of  the  subject,  I  shall  be 
Union.  If  a  friendly  Power  would  designate  j  happy  to  be  advised  by  you  whether  a  tract 
a  tract  of  country  within  its  jurisdiction,  of  land  in  the  Western  territory  of  the  Uni- 
eilher  on  this  continent  or  a  neighbouring  ted  States  < -an  be  procured  for  this  purpose, 
i  land,  to  which  we  might  send  such  person-,  in  what  quarter,  and  on  what  terms:  And. 
ii  i>  not  improbable  the  Legislature  might  also,  whether  a  friendly  Power  will  permit 
prefer  it.  In  any  event,  an  alternative  could  us  to  remove  such  persons  within  its  limits, 
not  be  otherwise  than  desirable,  since,  after  with  like  precision  as  to  the  place  and  con- 
maturely  weighing  the  condition  and  advan-  ditions  ?  It  is  possible  a  friendly  Power  may 
tages  of  each  position,  the  Legislature  might  be  disposed  to  promote  a  population  of  the 
still  prefer  that  which  appeared  lo  it  most  kind  referred  to,  and  willing  to  facilitate  the 
eligible.  measure  by  co-operating  with  u<  in  the  ac- 

It  is  proper  to  remark,  that  the  latter  part  complishment  of  it.  It  may  be  convenient 
of  the  resolution,  which  proposes  the  re  mo-  for  you  to  sound  such  Powers,  especially 
val  of  such  persons  as  are  dangerous  to  the  those  more  immediately  in  our  neighborhood, 
peace  of  society,  may  be  understood  as  com-  on  the  subject,  in  all  the  views  which  may 
prising  many  to  whom  the  preceding  mem-  appear  to  you  to  be  suitable, 
ber  does  not  apply.  Whether  the  Legisla-/You  will  perceive  that  I  invite  yourattcn- 
ture  intended  to  give  it  a  more  extensive  im-Vion  to  a  subject  of  great  delicacy  and  im- 
port, or,  rather,  whether  it  contemplated  re*C  portance,  one  which,  in  a  peculiar  degree, 
moving  from  the  country  any  but  culprit  J  involves  the  future  peace,  tranquility,  and 

condemned  to  suffer  death,  I  will  not  pretenc^j  happiness,  of  the  good  people  of  this'  Com- 

T»^_ 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


monwealth.  I  do  it,  however,  in  a  confi- 
dence tfcit  you  will  take  that  interest  in  it 
which  we  are  taught  to  expect  from  your 
conduct  through  life,  which  gives  you  so 
many  high  claims  to  our  regard. 

With  great  respect,  I  have  theonourtobe, 
&c.,  JAMES  MONROE. 

THOMAS  JEFFERSOX, 

President  of  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Jefferson's  answer  .to  Mr.   Monroe's 
letter  is  dated  November  24,  1801,  and  is  as 
follows,  viz. 

Washington,  November  24,  1801. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  had  not  been  unmindful  of 
your  letter  of  June  15th,  covering  a  resolu- 
tion of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  referred  to  in  yours  of  the  17th 
instant.  The  importance  of  the  subject,  and 
the  belief  that  it  gave  us  time  for  considera- 
tion till  the  next  meeting  of  the  Legislature, 
have  induced  me  to  defer  the  answer  to  this 
date.  You  will  perceive  that  some  circum- 
stances connected  with  the  subject,  and  ne- 
cessarily presenting  themselves  to  view, 
would  be  improper  but  for  your  and  the  leg- 
islative ear.  Their  publication  might  have 
an  ill  effect  in  more  than  one  quarter ;  in 
confidence  of  attention  to  this.  I  shall  indulge 
greater  freedom  in  writing. 

Common  malefactors,  I  presume,  make  no 
part  of  the  object  of  that  resolution.  Neither 
their  numbers,  nor  the  nature  of  their  of- 
fences, seem  to  require  any  provisions  be- 
yond those  practised  heretofore,  and  found 
adequate  to  the  repression  of  ordinary  crimes. 
Conspiracy,  insurgenc}r,  treason,  rebellion, 
among  that  description  of  persons  who 
brought  on  us  the  alarm,  and  on  themselves 


the  view  of  every  one  ;  but  many,  perhaps, 
contemplated,  and  one  expression  of  the  res- 
olution might  comprehend,  a  much  larger 
scope.  Respect  to  both  opinions  makes  it 
my  duty  to  understand  the  resolution  in  all 
the  extents  of  which  it  is  susceptible. 

The  idea  seems  to  be.  to  provide  for  these 
people  by  a  purchase  of  land  ;  and  it  is  ask- 
ed whether  such  a  purchase  can  be  made  of 


visions  of  the  acts  of  Congress,  with  which 
you  are  acquainted.  There  is  nothing  which 
would  restrain  the  State  of  Virginia,  either 
in  the  purchase  or  the  application  of  these 
lands  ;  but  a  purchase  by  the  acre  might, 
perhaps,  be  a  more  expensive  provision  than 
the  House  of  Representatives  contemplated. 
Questions  would  also  arise,  whether  the  es- 
tablishment of  such  a  colony  within  onr  lim- 
its, and  to  become  a  part  of  our  Union,  would 
be  desirable  to  the  State  of  Virginia  itself,  or 
to  the  other  States,  especially  those  who 
would  be  in  its  vicinity? 

Could  we  procure  lands  beyond  the  limits 
of  the  United  States,  to  form  a  receptacle  for 
these  people  ?  On  our  Northern  boundary  the 
country  not  occupied  by  British  subjects  is 
the  property  of  Indian  nations,  whose  titles 
would  be  to  be  extinguished,  with  the  con- 
sent of  Great  Britain  ;  and  the  new  settlers 
would  be  British  subjects.  It  is  hardly  to  be 
believed  that  either  Great  Britain  or  the  In- 
dian proprietors  have  so  disinterested  a  re- 
gard for  us  as  to  be  willing  to  relieve  us  by 
receiving  such  a  colony  themselves  ;  and  as 
much  is  it  to  be  doubted  whether  that  race 
of  men  could  long  exist  in  so  rigorous  a  cli- 
mate. On  our  Western  and  Southern  fron- 
tiers Spain  holds  an  immense  country  ;  the 
occupancy  of  which,  however,  is  in  the  In- 
dian natives,  except  a  few  insulated  spots 
possessed  by  Spanish  subjects.  It  is  very 
questionable,  indeed,  whether  the  Indians 
would  sell — and  nearly  certain  that  she  would 
not  alienate  the  sovereignty.  The  same 
question  to  ourselves  would  recur  here  also 
as  did  in  the  first  case  :  Should  we  be  will- 
ing to  have  such  a  colony  in  contact  with 
us  ?  However  our  precedent  interests  may 


the  tragedy  of  1800,  were  doubtless  within  restrain  us  within  our  own  limits,  it  is  impos- 


sible not  to  look  forward  to  distant  times, 
when  our  rapid  multiplication  will  expand 
itself  beyond  those  limits,  and  cover  the 
whole  Northern,  if  not  the  Southern  conti- 
nent, with  a  people  speaking  the  same  lan- 
guage, governed  in  similar  forms  and  by 
similar  laws.  Nor  can  we  contemplate  with 
satisfaction  either  blot  or  mixture  in  that 
surface.  Spain,  France,  and  Portugal,  hold 


the  United  States,  in  their  Western  territo- 1  possessions  on  the  Southern  continent,  as  to 
ry  '•:  A  very  great  extent  of  country  north  of  which  I  am  not  well  enough  informed  to  say 
the  Ohio  has  been  laid  off  into  townships,  how  far  they  might  meet  our  views.  But 
and  is  now  at  market,  according  to  the  pro-  either  there  or  in  the  Northern  continent, 


' 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


.-hould  the  constituted  authorities  of  Virginia 
fix  their  attention  of  preference.  I  will  have 
the  dispositions  of  those  Powers  sounded  in 
the  first  instance. 

The  West  Indies  oiler  a  more  probable  am 
practical  retreat  for  them.  Inhabited  alrea- 
dy by  a  people  of  their  own  race  and  colour — 
climates  congenial  with  their  natural  n.n 
tution,  insulated  from  the  other  description 
of  men — nature  seems  to  have  formed  these 
inlands  to  become  the  receptacles  of  the 
blacks  Iran-planted  into  tht-  li<-mi>pheio 
Whether  we  could  obtain  from  thy  European 
sovereigns  of  those  islands  leave  i 
thither  the  persons  under  contemplation,  I 
cannot  say ;  but  I  think  it  more  probable 
than  the  former  proposition,  because  of  their 
being  already  inhabited  more  or  less  bv  the 
same  race.  The  most  promising  portion  of 
them  is  the  island  of  St.  Domingo,  where  the 
blacks  are  established  into  a  sovereignty  de 
facto,  and  have  organized  themselves  under 
regular  laws  and  government.  I  should  con- 
jecture that  their  present  ruler  might  be  will- 
ing on  many  considerations  to  receive  even 
that  description  which  would  be  exiled  for 
acts  deemed  criminal  by  us,  but  meritorious 
perhaps  by  him.  The  possibility  that  these 
exiles  might  stimulate  and  conduct  vindic- 
tive or  predatory  descents  on  our  coast,  and 
facilitate  concert  with  their  brethren  remain- 
ing here,  looks  to  a  state  of  things  between 
that  island  and  us  not  probable,  on  a  contem- 
plation of  our  relative  strength,  and  of  the 
disproportion  daily  growing  ;  and  it  is  over- 
weighed  by  the  humanity  of  the  measures 
proposed,  and  the  advantages  of  disembar- 
rassing ourselves  of  such  dangerous  charac- 
ters. Africa  would  offer  a  last  and  undoubt- 
ed resort,  if  all  others  more  desirable  should 
fail  us.  Whenever  the  Legislature  of  Virginia 
shall  have  brought  its  mind  to  a  point,  so 
that  I  may  know  exactly  what  to  propose  to 
foreign  authorities.  I  will  execute  their  wishes 
with  fidelity  and  zeal.  I  hope,  however, 
they  will  pardon  me  for  suggesting  a  single 
question  for  their  own  consideration.  When 
we  contemplate  the  variety  of  countries  and 
of  sovereigns  towards  which  we  may  direct 
our  views,  the  vast  revolutions  and  changes 
of  circumstances  which  arc  now  in  a  course 
of  progression,  the  possibilities  that  arrange- 
ments now  to  be  made  with  a  view  to  any 


particular  place  may  at  no  great  distance  of 
time  be  totally  deranged  by  a  change"of  sov- 
ereignty, of  government,  or  of  other  circum- 
stances, it  will  be  for  the  Legislature  to  con- 
sider whether,  after  they  shall  have  made  all 
those  general  provisions  which  may  be  fixed 
by  legislative  authority,  it  would  be  reposing 
too  much  confidence  in  their  Executive  to 
leave  the  place  of  relegation  to  be  decided 
on  by  them,  and  executed  with  the  aid  of 
the  Federal  Executive  ?  They  could  accom- 
modate their  arrangements  to  the  actual 
state  of  things  in  which  countries  or  powers 
may  be  found  to  exist  at  that  day,  and  may 
prevent  the  effect  of  the  law  from  being  de- 
feated by  intervening  changr.-.  This,  how- 
ever, is  for  them  to  decide.  Our  duty  will 
be  to  respect  their  decision. 

Accept  assurances,  ^e. 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 

'l'     MdNUOK. 


From  this  letter  we-  learn  that  Mr.  Jeffer- 
son gave  the  resolution  of  1800  a  broader 
construction  than  its  terms  express.  He 
doubtless  had  information  from  private  sour- 
ces of  the  views  of  members,  and  therefore 
he  said,  '•  That  respect  to  all  opinions  made 
it  his  duty  to  understand  the  resolution  in  all 
the  extents  of  which  it  is  susceptible." 

Upon  the  reception  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  let- 
ter, Mr.  Monroe  communicated  it  to  the 
House  of  Delegates,  accompanied  with  the 
following  message,  evidently  intended  to 
elicit  a  more  full  expression  of  the  object 
which  they  had  in  view,  in  their  first  resolu- 
tion. The  message  is  as  follows  : 

SIR:  I  have  the  pleasure  to  communicate 
to  the.  General  Assembly  a  copy  of  my  cor- 
respondence with  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  in  compliance  with  the  resolution  of 
31st  December  last,  relative  to  the  purchase 
of  lands  without  the  limits  of  the  State,  to 
which  persons  obnoxious  to  its  laws  or  dan- 
gerous to  the  peace  of  societj  may  be  re- 
moved. As  it  was  known  that  the  United 
States  had  lands  for  sale  in  the  territory  lyini; 
ietv.een  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  a  propo- 
sition to  make  the  acquisition  by  purchase 
conveyed  the  idea  of  a  preference  for  a  trad 
n  that  quarter  :  but  as  such  preference  was 
not  declared,  and  a  liberal  construction  of 
he  resolution  admitted  a  greater  scope.  I 


The  Virginian  History  of  jjfrican  Colonization. 


thought  it  my  duty  to  open  the  subject  in 
that  light  to  the  President.  His  reply  has 
stated  fully  and  ably  the  objections  which 
occur  to  such  an  establishment  within  the 
limits  of  the  United  States.  He  also  presents 
to  view  all  the  other  places,  on  the  continent 
and  elsewhere,  which  furnish  alternatives, 
with  the  advantages  attending  each,  and  as- 
sures us  of  the  promptitude  that  he  will  co- 
operate in  carrying  into  effect  whatever  plan 
the  Legislature  may  adopt  in  reference  to 
the  object  contemplated.  It  remains,  there- 
fore, for  the  General  Assembly  to  explain 
more  fully  the  description  of  persons  who 
are  to  be  thus  transported,  and  the  place  to 
which  it  is  disposed  to  give  the  preference. 
As  soon  as  its  sense  is  declared  on  these 
points,  I  shall  hasten  to  communicate  the 
same  to  the  President,  and  shall  not  fail  to 
lay  the  result  before  you  at  your  next  session. 
It  is  proper  to  add,  that  it  is  the  wish  of  the 
Presideut  that  the  communication  be  consid- 
ered as  confidential. 

I  am,  sir,  with  great  respuct  and  esteem. 
your  very  humble  servant, 

JAMES  MONROE. 

This  led  to  the  following  explanation  by 
the  House  of  Delegates,  passed  January  16, 
1802,  and  agreed  to  by  the  Senate,  January 
23,  1802. 

In  tlir  Ifousr  of  Deleijalts.  ^aturdut/,  Jumian/  16 
'  L802. 

The  Legislature  of  the  Commonwealth, 
bv  their  resolution  of  December  last,  having 

*•  O 

authorized  the  Governor  to  correspond  with 
the  President  of  the  United  States  relative 
to  the  purchase  of  lands  without  the  limits  of 
this  State,  to  which  persons  obnoxious  to  the 
laws  or  dangerous  to  the  peace  of  society 
might  be  removed,  from  which  general  ex- 
pressions a  difference  of  construction  has 
prevailed,  to  reconcile  which,  recourse  must 
be  had  to  the  actual  state  of  things  which 
produced  the  resolution ;  therefore,  resolved, 
that,  as  the  resolution  was  not  intended  to 
embrace  offenders  for  ordinary  crimes,  to 
which  the  laws  have  been  found  equal,  but 
only  those  for  conspiracy,  insurgency.,  trea- 
son, and  rebellion,  among  those  particular 
persons  who  produced  the  alarm  in  this  State 
in  the  fall  of  1800,  the  Governor  be  request- 
ed, in  carrying  the  said  resolution  into  effect 


upon  the  construction  here  given,  to  request 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  pro- 
curing the  lands,  to  prefer  the  continent  of 
Africa,  or  any  of  the  Spanish  or  Portuguese 
settlements  in  South  America. 

Resolved,  also,  that  the  Governor  be  re- 
quested to  correspond  with  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  obtain- 
ing a  place  without  the  limits  of  the  same,  to 
which  free  negroes  or  mulattoes,  and  such 
negroes  or  mulattoes  as  may  be  emancipated, 
may  be  sent  or  choose  to  remove  as  a  place 
of  asylum  :  and  that  it  is  not  the  wish  of  the 
Legislature  to  obtain,  on  behalf  of  those  who 
may  remove  or  be  sent  thither,  the  sover- 
eignty of  such  place.  Resolved,  also,  that 
the  Governor  lay  before  the  next  General 
Assembly  the  result  of  his  communication. 
to  be  subject  to  their  control. 

WILLIAM  WIRT,  C.  H.  D. 
January  23,  1802.  —  Agreed  to  by  the  Senate. 

H.  BROOKE,  C.  S. 
A  copy.  —  Test  : 

JAMES  PLEASANTS,  JR.  C.  H.  D. 

Here,  for  the  first  time,  the  meaning  of 
the  House  of  Delegates  distinctly  emerges 
into  view,  and  Mr.  Jefferson's  broad  con- 
struction of  the  resolution  of  1800.  is  proved 
to  have  been  sound.  These  resolutions  con- 
tain the  whole  idea  of  the  Colonization  So- 
ciety as  it  is  now  embodied.  Measures  are 
proposed  for  obtaining  a  place  without  the 
limits  of  the  United  States,  to  which  free 
negroes  and  mulattoes  and  such  as  may  be 
emancipated,  may  be  sent,  or  choose  to  re- 
move, as  an  Asylum,  and  Africa  is  designa- 
ted as  the  place. 

Here  the  matter  seems  to  have  rested. 
until  the  year  1804,  when  Mr.  Jefferson  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  Mr.  Page,  the  then  gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  in  which  he  himself  relin- 
quishes the  idea  of  St.  Domingo,  and  speaks 
of  the  territory  of  Louisiana,  just  purchased 
by  the  American  government.  The  letter  is 
as  follows  : 


,  De<fi  u  '(,•>,-  i! 
DKAK  SIR  :  Resuming  the  subject  of  the 
resolutions  of  the  House  of  Delegates  of  De- 
cember 31st,  1800,  January  16th,  1802,  and 
February  3d,  1804,  I  have  it  not  in  my  pow- 
er to  say  that  any  change  of  circumstances 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


has  taken  place  which  enables  me  yet  to  pro-  he  safety :  Provided,  That  no  contract  or  ar- 

pose  any  specific  asylum  for  the  persons  who  rangement  respecting  such  territory  shall  be 

are  the  subjests  of  our  correspondence.    The  obligatory  on  this  Commonwealth  until  rati- 

island  of  St.  Domingo,  our  nearest  and  most  fied  by  the  Legislature. 

convenient  recourse,   is  too  unsettled  in  the  H.  HOLMES, 

conditions  of  its  existence  to  be  looked  to  as  Speaker  of  the  House  oj 

yet  for  any  permanent  arrangements  ;  and 

the  European  nations  have  territories  in  the 

same  quarter,  and  possess  the  same  kind  of 

population.     Whether  the  inhabitants  of  our 

late  acquisition  beyond  the  Mississippi,  or 

the  National  Legislature,  would  consent  that 

a  portion  of  that  country  should  be  set  apart 

for  the  persons  contemplated,  is  not  within 

my  competence  to  say. 

My  last  information  as  to  Sierra  Lei 
that  the  company  was  proposing  to  deliver 
up  their  colony  to  their  Government.  Should 


Agreed  to  January  22d,  1805. 
C.  TAYLOR, 

Speaker  of  the  Senate. 
A  copy. — Test : 

JAMES  PLEAS  ANTS,  JR.,   C.  H.  D. 

On  the  suggestion  contained  in  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson's letter,  the  Legislature  had  their  at- 
tention entirely  turned  to  a  portion  of  the 
vacant  territory  of  Louisiana.  And  as  their 
resolution  contained  instructions  to  the  sen- 
ators in  Congress,  and  a  request  to  the  rep- 


this take  place,  it  might  furnish  occasion  for, 

another  effort  to  procure  an  incorporation  of:pr°Cm*  sudl  aLterr'<017   " 

ours  into  it.     An  attack  during  the  war  has  i  f m°r  PagC  <0  f hem 
i        .r        ..i  .j      ui    •  •  lowing  note.  vi/. 

done  the  settlement  considerable  mjui  v. 

I  beg  you  to  be  assured  that,  having  tho;  /,'<•./,>„„„,/ 


resentatives  of  the  State,  to  endeavour  to 

<ent  b\ 
by  the  fol- 


object  of  the  House  of  Delegates  sincerely 
at  heart,  I  will  keep  it  under  my  constant 
attention,  and  omit  no  occasion  which  may 
occur  of  giving  it  effect. 

Accept  my  affectionate  salutation  >.  and 
assurances  of  great  respect  and  considera- 
tion. 


THOMAS  JF.FFKRSON. 


i 


This  letter  led  to  the  following  resolution 
of  the  House  of  Delegates,  dated  December 


•i  -2.  ISO.'). 
•  :i.\  :  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose 
a  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly,  for  an 
explanation  of  which  1  beg  leave  to  refer  you 
to  the  copies  of  letters  which  pas>ed  between 
the  President  of  the  United  States  and  Gov- 
ernor Monroe,  and  to  one  written  by  the 
President  to  me,  and  by  this  mail  transmitted 
to  our  Senators  in  Congress  ;  but,  for  more 
satisfactory  information,  I  would  refer  you  to 
the  President  himself,  to  whom  I  shall  apol- 
ogize for  requesting  you  to  trouble  him  on 
this  occasion  :  but  I  know  that  he  will  with 


3,  1804,  and  agreed  to  by  the  Senate,  Janu- :  pleasure  give  you   all   the   information  you 
ary  22,  1805.  may  require.     From  the  nature  of  the  deli- 

General  Assembly  begun  and  held  at  the  cate  business  contemplated  in  the  resolution, 
Capitol  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  on  you  will  see  the  propriety  of  its  being  con- 
Monday  the  third  clay  of  December,  in  thejsidered  confidential. 

year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  him-       I  am  gentlemen,  with  great   respect,  your 
dred  and  four,  and  of  the  Commonwealth  the  obedient  servant, 
twenty-ninth:  JOHN  PAGE. 

Resolved,  That  the  Senators  of  this  State       '/'//-•  Repreyetitat\  i '//•</</«'><  in  <'<,n-i, ••.-•••<. 

in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  be  in-       Our  difficulties  with  France  and  England 
structed,  and  the  Representatives  be  request-   now   superseded  and  arrested,  at  this  point. 


ed,  to  exert  their  best  efforts  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  from  the  General  Government 
a  competent  portion  of  territory,  in  the  coun- 


those  interesting  proceedings.  But  there 
was  at  least  one  eminent  politician  whose 
mind  was  not  diverted  from  the  contempla- 


try  of  Louisiana,  to  be  appropriated  to  theUion.of  this    important  subject  by   the   ap- 
residence  of  such  people  of  colour  as  have  proaching  war  with  England.    This  fact,  with 


been  or  shall  be  emancipated  in  Virginia,  or 
may  hereafter  become  dangerous  to  the  pub- 


other  items  of  information,  is  disclosed  in  a 
letter  from   Mr.  Jefflrsun  to  Mr.  Lynd  upon 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


the  subject  of  Ann  Mifflin's  project  of  a  col- 
ony in  Africa.  The  letter  is  as  follows — 

Monticello,  January  21,  1811. 

SIR  :  You  have  asked  my  opinion  on  the 
proposition  of  Ann  Mifflin,  to  take  measures 
for  procuring  on  the  coast  of  Africa  an  es- 
tablishment to  which  the  people  of  colour  of 
these  States  might,  from  time  to  time,  be 
colonized,  under  the  auspices  of  different 
governments.  Having  long  ago  made  up 
my  mind  on  this  subject,  I  have  no  hesita- 
tion in  saying  that  I  have  ever  thought  that 
the  most  desirable  measures  which  could  be 
adopted  for  gradually  drawing  off  this  part  of 
our  population — most  advantageous  for  them- 
selves as  well  as  for  us.  Going  from  a  coun- 
try possessing  all  the  useful  arts,  they  might 
be  the  means  of  transplanting  them  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Africa  ;  and  would  thus 
carry  back  to  the  country  of  their  origin  the 
seeds  of  civilization,  which  might  render 
their  sojournment  here  a  blessing  in  the  end 
to  that  country. 

I  received,  in  the  last  year  of  my  entering 
into  the  administration  of  the  general  govern- 
ment, a  letter  from  the  Governor  of  Virginia, 
consulting  me,  at  the  request  of  the  Legisla- 
ture of  the  State,  on  the  means  of  procuring 
some  such  asylum,  to  which  these  people 
might  be  occasionally  sent.  1  proposed  to 
him  the  establishment  of  Sierra  Leone,  in 
which  a  private  company  in  England  had  al- 
ready colonized  a  number  of  negroes,  and 
particularly  the  fugitives  from  these  States 
during  the  revolutionary  war;  and  at  the 
same  time  suggested,  if  that  could  not  be  ob- 
tained, some  of  the  Portuguese  in  South 
America  as  most  desirable. 

The  subsequent  Legislature  approving 
these  ideas,  I  wrote  the  ensuing  year  (1802) 
to  Mr  King,  our  minister  in  London,  to  en- 
deavour to  negotiate  with  the  Sierra  Leone 
company,  and  induce  them  to  receive  such 
of  these  people  as  might  be  colonized  thither. 

He  opened  a  correspondence  with  Mr.  W 

and  Mr.  Thornton,  secretary  of  the  company, 
on  the  subject;  and,  in  1803,  I  received, 
through  Mr.  King,  the  result ;  which  was 
that  the  colony  was  going  on  in  but  a  lan- 
guishing condition;  that  the  funds  of  the 
company  were  likely  to  fail,  as  they  received 
no  return  of  profit  to  keep  them  up ;  that 


they  were  then  in  treaty  with  the  govern- 
ment to  take  the  establishment  off  their 
hands  ;  but  that  in  no  event  should  they  be 
willing  to  receive  more  of  these  people  from 
the  United  States,  as  it  was  that  portion  of 
settlers  who  had  gone  from  the  United  States, 
who,  by  their  idleness  and  turbulence,  had 
kept  the  settlement  in  constant  danger  of 
dissolution,  which  could  not  have  been  pre- 
vented, but  for  the  aid  of  the  Maroon  negroes 
from  the  West  Indies,  who  were  more  indus- 
trious and  orderly  than  the  others,  and  sup- 
ported the  authority  of  the  government  and 
its  laws. 

I  think  I  learned  afterwards  that  the  Brit- 
ish government  had  taken  the  colony  into 
their  own  hands,  and  I  believe  it  still  exists. 

The  effort  which  I  made  with  Portugal,  to 
obtain  an  establishment  from  them,  within 
their  colonies  in  South  America,  proved  also 
abortive. 

You  inquired,  further,  i!  whether  I  would 
use  my  endeavours  to  procure  such  an  es- 
tablishment, secure  against  violence  from 
other  powers,  and  particularly  the  French." 
Certainly,  I  shall  be  willing  to  do  any  thing  1 
can  to  give  it  effect  and  safety. 

But  I  am  but  a  private  individual,  and 
could  only  use  endeavours  with  individuals  : 
whereas  the  National  Government  can  ad- 
dress themselves  at  once  to  those  of  Europe, 
to  obtain  the  desired  security,  and  will  un- 
questionably be  ready  to  exert  its  influence 
with  those  nations  to  effect  an  object  so  be- 
nevolent in  itself,  and  so  important  to  a  great 
portion  of  its  constituents;  indeed,  nothing- 
is  more  to  be  v:ishcd  than  that  the'  United  States 
would  thpmsp!rc.<i  i/n<lrrttikr  fo  make  such  an 
establishment  nn.  f/>r  m//xt  of  Africa. 

Exclusive  of  motives  of  humanity,  the 
commercial  advantages  to  be  derived  from  it 
might  defray  (til  its  expenses ;  but  for  this 
the  national  mind  is  not  prepared.  It  may, 
perhaps,  be  doubted  whether  many  of  these 
people  would  voluntarily  consent  to  such  An 
exchange  of  situation,  and  but  few  of  those 
who  are  advanced  to  a  certain  age  in  habits 
of  slavery  would  be  capable  of  governing 
themselves.  This  should  not,  however,  dis- 
courage the  experiment,  nor  the  early  trial 
of  it.  And  propositions  should  be  made, 
with  all  the  prudent  caution  and  attention 


8 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


requisite  to  reconcile  it  to  the  interest,   the 
safety,  and  prejudice  of  all  parties. 

Accept  the  assurance  of  ray  respect  and 
esteem. 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 

A  treaty  of  peace  having  been  concluded 
with  Great  Britain,  in  1815,  the  public  mind 
reverted  with  renewed  interest  to  the  subject 
of  Colonization.  Charles  Fenton  Mercer 
was  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Delegates.  He  accidentally  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  acts  of  the  Legislature  in 
secret  session  of  1800,  1802  and  1804.  He 
imputed  the  failure  of  those  resolutions  to 
the  secresy  with  which  they  were  passed, 
and  determined,  if  re-elected,  that  he  would 
renew  them  at  the  next  session.  The  Leo-is- 

D 

lature   adjourned   on   the  29th  of  February, 
1816. 

After  the  adjournment,  he  went  to  \Va*h- 
ington,  where  he  met  with  Elias  B.  Cald- 
well  and  Francis  S.  Key,  to  whom  he  com- 
municated his  intentions.  They  promised 
their  co-operation.  "Mr.  Key  -;iid.  if  neces- 
sary he  would  if  possible  get  a  seat  in  the 
Legislature  of  Maryland  and  offer  similar 
resolutions.  The  Legislature  of  Virginia  re- 
assembled on  the  17th  of  November,  1816. 
Mr.  Mercer  moved  his  resolutions  on  the  12th 
of  December,  preceding  his  motion,  (for 
greater  dispatch,)  with  cue  to  «-IOM:  the  doors 
of  the  House.  After  a  day'.-  debate,  the 
resolutions  were  adopted  by  a  majority  of 
137  votes  out  of  146.  On  the  llth  of  De- 
cember, the  injunction  of  srcre.-v  \va-  re- 
moved, and  the  resolution*  \\ere  sent  to  the 
Senate  and  passed  that  body  on  the  '23d  Of 
December  with  but  one  dissenting  \oin-. 
The  resolution*  ;n-e  as  follows  : 

'    \\herea*  the  General  Assembly  of    Vir- 
ginia has  repeatedly  sought  to  obtain  an  Asy- 1 
lum   beyond   the  limit*  of  the  I'nited  States' 
for   such   persons  of  color  as  have  been,  or 
may  be,  emancipated  under  the  laws  ol'  this 
commonwealth,  but  have  hitherto  found  all 
their  efforts  frustrated  either  by  the  disturbed 
state  of  other  nations,  or  by  domestic  muses 


equally  unpropitious,  they  now  avail  them- 
selves of  a  period  when  peace  has  healed 
the  wounds  of  humanity  and  the  principal 
nations  of  Europe  have  agreed  with  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  in  abolishing 
the  African  slave  trade,  (a  tratlic  which  thi* 
commonwealth,  both  before  and  after  the 
Revolution,  /ealously  sought  to  extirpate.) 
to  renew  this  effort, 

^Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  Executive 
be  requested  to  correspond  with  the  !Ye>i- 
dent  of  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  a  territory  on  the  coast  of  Africa. 
or  at  some  other  place  not  within  any  of  the 
States,  or  territories  of  the  United  State.-,  to 
servo  for  an  asylum  of  such  persons  of 
color  as  are  now  free,  and  desire  the  same. 
and  for  those  who  may  be  hereafter  emanci- 
pated within  this  commonwealth,  and  that 
the  Senate  and  Representatives  ol  this  State 
in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  be  re- 
quested to  exert  their  best  efforts  to  aid  in 
the  attainment  of  the  above  object. 

ST.  G.  TI-CKER,  C.  H.  D.,  and 

Keeper  of  the  Rolls  ol    Va. " 

In  Ihr  meantime  Francis  Key.  Bishop 
Meade,  Dr.  Kindley  and  others,  had  been 
pondering  the  ^ubject  of  African  Coloniza- 
tion. These,  with  FJia*  I).  Caldwell  and 
other  persons  of  like  minds,  assembled  in 
the  city  of  \\"a*hington  on  the  21*f  of  De- 
cember of  the  -aine  vear.  and  recommended 
the  formation  of  the  .American  Colonization 

Society. 

Mr.  Clay  presided  at  the  meeting,  and 
stirring  addresses  were  made  by  him.  and 
!iy  Messrs.  Caldwell  and  Randolph  of  I»oan- 
«ki  \  Committee  wa*  appointed  to  pre- 
sent a  memorial  to  Congre1-.  John  Ran- 
dolph was  on  that  committee.  The  Society 
held  its  firat  meeting  on  the  27th  of  January. 
1817,  and  elected  its  oflicers.  Judge  Bush- 
rod  Washington,  of  Virginia,  was  made  Pres- 
ident, and  among  the  Vice-President' a  we:e 
Clay,  Crawford,  Jack*on,  Aleaclo.  arid  John 
Taylor  of  Virginia. 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization 


9 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  agency  of  James  Monroe  in  the  plantation 
of  the  Colony  of  Liberia. 

It  was  a  happy  coincidence  that  the  year 
of  the  formation  of  the  Colonization  Society, 
was  the  year  of  James  Monroe's  accession 
to  the  presidency  of  the  United  States.  We 
have  seen  in  the  preceding  narrative,  Mr. 
Monroe's  active  co-operation  while  Gover- 
nor of  Virginia,  with  Thomas  Jefferson,  then 
President  of  the  United  States,  in  stimula- 
ting and  shaping  those  acts  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  Virginia,  which  led  to  the  for- 
mation of  the  Colonization  Society.  We 
shall  now  see  his  agency  in  a  new  ana  high- 
er sphere,  in  executing  those  laws  of  Con- 
gress which  resulted  in  and  were,  perhaps, 
indispensable  to  the  establishment  of  the  co- 
lony itself.  In  these  events  we  shall  disco- 
ver another  example  ot  the  apparent  super- 
intendence of  Divine  Providence  over  this 
whole  scheme,  in  making  individuals  and 
States,  Politicians  and  Christians,  each  mo- 
ved perhaps  by  a  different  reason,  co-operate 
in  bringing  about  one  result. 

o       o 

It  was  hardly  possible  for  a  private  socie- 
ty,  with  small  pecuniary  resources,  and  work- 
ing with  such  rude  materials,  to  make  a  per- 
manent plantation  upon  a  distant  and  bar- 
barous shore.  The  Society  had  already  bor- 
rowed money  to  pay  the  expenses  of  Messrs. 
Mills  and  Burgess  in  searching  for  a  site  for 
the  colony.  To  replace  this  money,  Charles 
Fenton  Mercer  procured,  by  personal  solici- 
tations in  Baltimore,  the  sum  of  $4,500,  and 
Bishop  Meade  raised  a  still  larger  sum  in 
Virginia.  After  discharging  this  debt,  the 
sum  remaining  in  the  treasury  of  the  society 
was  utterly  inadequate  to  the  proposed  en- 
U-rprise,  even  if  a  private  association  had 
been  competent  to  effect  the  necessary  nego- 
tiations whh  foreign  powers.  It  v, . 
likely  that  the  government  of  the  United 
States  would  take  the  responsibility  of  such 
a  measure,  although  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe  ami  Marshall  all  concurred  in  the 
opinion  of  \~-~  expediency  ami  constitution- 
ality. 

But  that  DiyLne  Providenc..  .-ways 


are  not  as  our  ways,  had,  (as  it  seems  to  our 
short  sight,)  laid  far  back  in  the  legislation 
of  Congress  a  train  of  causes,  whose  effects 
made  it  the  interest  of  the  Government  of 
he  United  States  to  co-operate  with  the  Col- 
onization Society. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  de- 
nied to  Congress  the  power  of  prohibiting 
the  importation  of  Slaves  into  this  country, 
until  the  year  1808.  Anticipating  this  peri- 
od, Congress,  in  1807,  passed  an  act  prohib- 
iting the  slave-trade.  This  act  wa<-  to  go 
into  operation  in  1808,  so  soon  as  the  Consti- 
tutional limitation  expired. 

This  law,  while  it  imposed  heavy  penal- 
ties upon  all  persons  who  should  buy  or  sell 
any  recaptured  African,  also  contained  a  pro- 
vision placing  those  captives  who  should  be 
brought  into  the  territory  of  any  particular 
State,  in  the  power  of  the  Legislature  of 
such  State,  to  be  disposed  of  at  it.s  pleasure. 

Under  this  provision,  the  Legislatures  of 
several  Southern  States  actually  sold  a  num- 
ber of  recaptured  Africans. 

Wm.  H.  Crawford,  then  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  informed  the  Colonization  Society 
that  the  State  ol  Georgia  had  recently  sold 
a  number  of  those  Africans,  who  had  been 
recaptured  under  the  law  of  1808,  the  pro- 
ceeds of  whose  sale,  amounting  to  $50.000, 
was  then  in  the  Treasury  of  the  State  unap- 
propriated, and  that  there  was  a  company  of 
them  then  advertised  for  sale.  Mr.  Craw- 
ford, who  was  a  Vice-President  of  the  Soci- 
ety, -advised  it  to  send  an  Agent  to  Georgia 
to  solicit  a  release  of  these  captives,  and  the 
transfer  of  the  $50,000  to  their' treasury. 
Bishop  Meade  kindly  volunteered  for  this 
mission. 

A  law  of  Georgia  had  provided  that  if  pre- 
vious to  the  sale  of  any  recaptured  Africans 
the  Colonization  Society  woulc  undertake  to 
convey  them  to  Africa,  they  should  be  deliv- 
ered to  the  Society. 

Bishop  Meade  succeeded  in  releasing  the 
',  captives,  but  not  in  recovering  the  money. 

Charles  Fenton  Mercer,  the  neighbour  and 
personal  friend  of  Mr.  Monroe,  called  the 
attention  of  the  President  to  the  inconsisten- 
cy of  the  titles  of  the  Acts  of  Congress  of 
1808  and  1818,  with  these  proceedings  in 
Georgia. 

Mr.  Mercer  in   cooperation  with  .his  col- 


10 


The  nV/r;V"?>  History  nf  African  Colonization. 


league,  Dr.  Floyd  of  Virginia,  had  a/bill  re- 
ported in  Congress,  repealing  those  provi- 
sions, which  enabled  a  State  to  defeat  the 
intention  of  a  law  of  Congress.  This  bill 
became  the  law  of  1819,  which  committed 
all  recaptured  Africans  to  the  custody  of  the 
Marshals  of  the  United  States,  until  they 
could  be  returned  to  their  own  country.  It 
also  authori/ed  the  President  of  the  1'nited 
States  to  appoint  Agents  upon  the  Coast  of 
Africa  to  receive  them,  and  appropriated 
$100,000  to  carry  its  provi-ions  into  effect. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  Legislation  of 
Congress  had  devolved  upon  the  government 
of  the  United  States  a  necessity  for  provid- 
ing an  Asylum  for  recaptured  Africans.  It 
thus  became  the  interest  of  the  (Jeneral  (,'ov- 
ernment,  in  carrying  out  its  own  policy,  to 
cooperate  with  the  Colonization  Society, 
whose  benevolent  designs  were  just  ripe  for 
execution. 

We  cannot  tell  how  it  strikes  others,  but 
for  ourselves  we  recognize  with  reverence  in 
these  proceedings,  what  seem  to  us  unmis- 
takcable  indications  of  a  Divine  Providence 
presiding  over  and  "  shaping  the  end-"  of 
individuals  and  of  Nations. 

Il  was  fortunate  for  humanity,  ami  e.-pe- 
cially  for  America  and  Africa,  that  the  exe- 
cution of  this  law  devolved  upon  James 
Monroe.  This  good  man  put  a  liberal  inter- 
pretation upon  this  act  of  Congress, 
had  previously  done  upon  an  act  of  the  (Jen- 
eral  Assembly  of  Virginia.  He  communi- 
cated his  interpretation  to  Congress  and  with 
its  acquiescence,  he  carried  the  law  into  ••!- 
feet,  by  placing  in  the  hands  of  the  Society's 
Agent,  Mr.  Bacon,  a  large  sum  of  money 
before  the  sailing  of  the  Eli/.abeth  with  the 
first  company  of  emigrants.  The  Explo- 
ring Agents  had  selected  the  isle  of  Sh.-r- 
bro  as  the  site  of  the  Colony,  and  thither 
the  first  emigrants  wen-  convevol.  The 
heroism  of  this  little  company  in  volun- 
teering as  the  pioneers  of  this  bold  adven- 
ture, has  a  sublime  moral,  which  perhaps  in 
after  times  may  be  fitly  commemorated  la- 
the muse  of  History. 

The  Agents  of  the  Society  and  of  tin 
ernment,    with    about   twenty  of  this  little 


company,  soon  fell  victims  to  the  climate  and 
the  treachery  of  the  natives.  The  survivor- 
fled  to  Sierra  Leone.  At  this  crisis  the  cause 
of  Colonization  again  felt  the  beneficent  ef- 
fects of  Mr.  Monroe's  liberal  construc- 
tion of  the  law.  which  it  was  his  duty  to  ex- 
erute. 

When  the  Elizabeth  had  been  wrecked, 
their  stores  exhausted  and  hope  had  well 
nigh  gone,  Capt.  Wadsworth  of  the  Navy. 
under  the  orders  of  the  President,  came  to 
their  relief.  He  repaired  their  schooner  and 
from  his  own  -tores  and  those  of  his  brother 
otiicers,  he  supplied  their  immediate  wants 
and  reanimated  their  hopes.  Under  like  or- 
ders Captain  'now  Commodore)  Stockton,  in 
company  with  the  1  'nited  States'  Agent,  Dr. 
Ay  re-,  purchased  the  present  site  of  the 
Colony  and  removed  the  remaining  colonist- 
to  it.  Capt.  Spence  who  succeeded  him. 
with  like  orders,  built  for  them  a  stone  tower 
to  protect  them  against  the  infuriated  na- 
tive-, mid  left  them  in  security  and  comfort."' 
'It  was  not  without  reason  that  Chancellor 
Harper,  "  one  of  the  first  orators  that  Virgi- 
nia, his  native  State,  ever  produced,"  paid 
to  Mr.  Monroe  the  following  just  tribute  at  a 
meeting  in  the  capitol  at  Washington  in  1824. 

I  will  now  (the  colony  had  just  been  nam- 
ed Liberia)  offer  another  resolution,  with  a 
different  object.  It  i<  not  only  to  give  a  name 
to  the  principal  town  in  our  infant  settlement. 
but  at  the  same  time  to  mark  our  gratitude 
to  that  venerable  and  distinguished  man  to 
whom  it  is  more  indebted  than  to  any  other 
single  man.  It  is  perfectly  well  known  that 
but  for  the  \\i.-e  and  liberal  use  he  has  been 
pleased  to  make  of  the  great  power  confided 
to  him,  all  our  efforts  would  have  been  una- 
vailing. As  an  acknowledgment  of  his  high 
services,  I  make  the  following  motion  : 

Resolved,  That  the  town  laid  out  and  estab- 
lished at  Liberia,  shall  be  called  and  known 
by  the  name  of  Monrovia,  as  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  important  benefits  conferred  on 
the  settlement  by  the  present,  illustrious  Chief 
Magistrate  of  the  I'nifed  State-. 


•icl'itl     .Mrlvr)1.    to     \\liulll    \\  r     j|)T 

indfliti"!  tor  many  of  |L>  t'on-^oiiiL';  I'ai'ts  in  tin- 
history  of  events,  of  \\liicli  IIP  mijrlit  say  \\itli 
truth,  '{mi,  i/tn  iinii/iin  /><u. *  fiii. 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


11 


CHACTEK  111. 

The  Era  of  Auxiliary  Societies  in    Virginia 

I  think  it  not  premature  for  us  to  prom- 
ise, that  if  before  many  years,  the  author- 
ship of  this  plan  imply  responsibility,  Vir- 
ginia will  be  ready  to  bear  it;  if  it  imparl 
honor  Virginia  will  claim  \t.--Speech  of  Jesse 
Harrison,  of  Lynchburg,  in  1828. 

The  interval  of  time  between  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  American  Colonization  So- 
ciety at  Washington,  in  1817,  and  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Colonization  Society  oi 
Virginia  at  Richmond,  in  1828,  as  an  inde- 
pendent State  institution,  was  the  epoch  of 
auxiliary  societies.  The  number  of  auxiliary 
societies  formed  during  this  time  will  show 
what  a  strong  hold  this  subject  had  taken  on 
the  public  mind,  and  how  rapidly  and  widely 
it  spread  until  it  pervaded  the  whole  com- 
monwealth. 

We  reproduce  the  names  of  the  officers 
and  managers  of  these  societies,  that  the  pub- 
lic may  see  who  are  entitled  to  share  in  the 
responsibilities  of  this  measure,  if  it  "  im- 
plies responsibility,  or  to  claim  its  honors  if 
honors  are  to  be  imparted."  We  are  not 
without  hope  that  these  reminiscences  of  by- 
gone days  may  stir  up  the  sons  to  finish  the 
work  of  which  their  honored  fathers  laid  the 
foundations. 

AUXILIARY    COLONIZATION    SOCIETY, 
RICHMOND. 

Chief  Justice  Marshall,  President. 

James  Pleasants,  John  Tyler,  Vice  Pres. 

T.  C.  Howard,  Secretary. 

B.  Brand,  Treasurer. 

' r  Managers. — R.  G.  Scott,  Jno.  Rutherfoord, 
J.  H.  Eustace,  James  Blair,  D.  J.  Burr,  W. 
Barret,  W.  Cowling,  J.  E.  Heath,  W.  Crane, 
H.  Neilson,  &c. 

NORFOLK. 

James  Nimmo,  President. 

Rd.  E.  Parker,  S.  Foster,  Vice  Pres. 

Managers. — J.  McPhail,  J.  Cowdery,  T. 
C.  Broughton,  Rev.  N.  Davis,  Rev.  H.  W. 
Ducachet,  J.  French,  R.  L.  Green,  S.  K. 
Kollock.  D.  G.  Fisk,  Alex.  Gait,  J.  Hendren, 
R.  C.  Jennings,  H.  Shields,  R.  Soutter,  R.  B. 
Starke,  H.  Woodis. 

Wm.  Maxwell,  Secretary. 


FREDERICKSBURG. 
Judge  Lomax,  President. 
John  Gray,   John   Scott,   D.  Grinnan,  Rt. 
Lewis,   Vice  Presidents. 

Managers. — Rev.  E.  C.  McGuire,  Dr.  W. 
Browne,  W.  A.  Knox,  R.  T.  Thom,  P.  Har- 
rison, M.  Forbes,  J.  S.  Wellford,  John  Hart, 
Sam.  Gordon,  F.  Johnson,  W.  C.  Beale,  &c. 

PETERSBURG. 
Dr.  R.  Field,  President. 
Rev.  A.  Syme,  Judge  May,  Vice  Pres. 
G.  P.  Disosway,  Treasurer. 
Wm.  M.  Atkinson,  Secretary. 
Managers. — John  Grammer,  F.  G.  Yancey, 
Min.  Thrift,  W.  H.  Macfarland,   T.   Young, 
E.  Pescud,  Wm.  Clarke,  Tho.  Robinson,  T. 
Shore,  Ben.  Rice,  A.  B.  Spooner,  J.  Taliafer- 
ro,  Hugh  Nelson,  Dr.  J.  C.  Pegram. 

ALEXANDRIA. 
John  Roberts,  President. 
Rev.  Mr.  Harrison,  Rev.  S.  Cornelius,  V. 
Presidents. 

Managers. — W.  Gregory,  T.  Smith,  T. 
Sanford,  J.  Douglas,  N.  Fitzhugh,  John  With- 
ers, J.  Cornell,  J.  G.  Nichols,  Geo.  Johnson, 
C.  Page. 

ISLE  OF  WIGHT  COUNTY. 
Dr.  George  Butler,  President. 
Dr.  Geo.  Wilson,  Major  A.  Woodley,   Vice 
Presidents. 

Col.  W.  H.  Woodley,  Secretary. 
John  Womble,  Treasurer. 
HAMPTON. 

Rev.  John  S.  Westwood,  President. 
Managers. — Rev.  W.  Gilliam,  L.  H.  Reed, 
Sam.  Watts. 

W.  J.  Simpkins,  Secretary. 
W.  S.  Armistead,  Treasurer. 
SUSSEX  COUNTY. 
John  Cargill,  President. 
Major  Wm.  Parham,  Vice  President. 
Col.  George  Blow,  Secretary. 
W.  Parham,  Treasurer. 

ALBEMARLE  COUNTY. 

General  J.  H.  Cocke,  President. 

Wm.  C.  Rives,  T.  W.  Gilmer,  James  Ter- 
rell, Vice  Presidents. 

J.  B.  Carr,  Treasurer. 

KING  WILLIAM  roi.M'Y. 

John  Roanc,  President. 

Rev.  Robert   Semple..  Rev.   A.   Broaddus, 
\ice  Presidents. 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


C.  W.  Taliaferro,  Secretary. 
Dr.  W.  Gwathmey,  Treasurer. 


DINWIDDIE  COUNTY. 

D.  G.  Hatch,  President. 

Wm.  B.  Thompson,   Vice  President. 

R.  B.  Booth,  Secret <n- 1/. 

B.  Anderson,  Treasurer. 

Managers. — John  Atkinson.  J.  Wainwright, 

R.  C.  Booth,  D.  Muir,  W.  H.  Cousins,  J.  N. 

Fisher,  R.  V.  Tucker,  S.   Thompson,  J.  H. 

Harper. 

A.MIIUK.ST  COU.Y!  \  . 

Rev.  C.  H.  Page,  President. 

Wm.  Duncan,  R.  S.  Ellis,   i  -dents. 

S.  R.  Davies,  Treasurer. 

S.  M.  Garland,  Secretary. 

Managers. — E.  A.  Cabell,  II.  M.  Garland, 
Wm.  Watson,  A.  B.  Davies,  Dr.  J.  P.  Brown, 
W.  S.  Crawford,  Ed.  Winston. 


Managers. — G.  Morris.  G.  A.  Strange,  J. 
Winn,  J.  Stillman,  J./Currin,  Dr.  G.  M. 
Lewis,  Dr.  B.  M.  Jones,  C.  W.  Jones,  M. 
Tutwilcr.  S.  F.  Morris. 


•  Y. 

P.  C.  Pendleton,  President. 

Ed.  Colston,  M   Locke,  Vice  President*. 

T.  Davis,  J.  Rogei 

J.  K.  Wil.-ou,   Trptfiurrr. 

.Watiarrfrx. — Alex.  Cooper,  M.  T.  Hunter, 
J.  Doll,  A.  Hihbanl,  B.  C.  Wolf,  John  Stro- 
ther,  Rev.  C.  C.  Kranth,  J.  T.  Brooke,  J.  M. 
IVnvn,  A.  SnrtwHI,  J.  N.  Riddle,  W.  Evans. 

Jos.  Pmitii-s,  rrrxi'/rnt. 
Rev.  J.  Keeling,  R.   Cox,  J.  Riddick,  M. 
Riddick,   Vire  Presidents. 
J.  T.  Kilby,  Secretary. 
Arthur  Smith,  Treasur 

:K\GIIAM  COUNTY. 
J.  M.  Walker,  President. 
Rev.  T.  Burgc,  Vice  President. 
J.  Staples,  Treasurer.     P.  B.  Phelps. 

NELSON  COUNTY. 

Rev.  J.  Boyd,  President. 

J.  M.  Martin,  Vice  President. 

Col.  A.  Brown,  Treasurer. 

James  Garland,  Secretary. 

Managers. — Rt.  Rives,  R.  Whitehead,  C. 
Perrow,  L.  W.  Harris,  Dr.  R.  Kincaid,  Rev. 
J.  Paul,  Rev.  J.  Shepherd,  R.  (\  Cutler, 
Lucas  P.  Thompson. 

i'l.rVANNA   COUNTY. 
General  Cocke,  President. 
E.  J.  Magruder,  Rev.  W .    'i  1in,l,,-i -hike,  E. 
G.  Payne,  J.  Timberlake,  Vice  Presidents. 


HARPERS  FERRY. 

J.  Stubblefieid.  President. 
Wm.   McGuire..  A.   Beckham.  E.  Wager, 
R.  Hump!-  ~"  Presidents. 

J.  Wark,  Treasurer. 
J.  P.  McGuire,  Secretary. 

WHEELI1 

Noah  Zane.  Prcxi 

Rev.  W.  Wiley,  Rev.  J.  Armstrong,  Rev. 
H.  Furlong.  J.  A.  Caldw^l!,  Vic.- 

Presidents. 

ngers. — :  .  E.  J.  Lee,  J.  C 

ms.A.'W  r.  Smith,  R.  T. 

CustiF.   W.  F.  Peterson,  Dr.  J.  T.  Irwin,  D. 
Hubbarcl,  S.  McSulIen,  D.  B. 
Woods,  B.  McMeohon. 
T.  Wood?.  Treasurer. 
}>.  McK»'p.  Secret 

I-T:EDI:RICK  COUNTT. 
Nat.  Burwell,  President. 
Obed  Waite,  Treasurer. 
..  C.  Smith,  Srcretary. 

OLNTV. 

Philip  P.  Thomson,  President. 
Ho  n  •  .    Virr 

Presi^ 

Joseph  Love ;  -:rcr. 

:ird  S.  Eddy,  Secretary. 

>Y. 

Rev.  J)r.  Cor,  President. 

Rev.  James  (  .  Wil>on,  Rer.  Dr.  Daniel 
Stephens,  Vice  Presides 

Managers. — Hon.  Archibald  Stuart,  Wil- 
liam Bell,  Daniel  Shelley,  Charles  A.  Stuart. 
John  H.  Peyton,  Samuel  Clarke,  James  A. 
M'Cue,  John  •'••  'avid  Gilkeson,  Jr.. 

William  Kinney,  Jr.,   David   W.   Patt< 
Nicholas  C.  Kinney. 

William  Clark,  Secretary. 

Joseph  Cowan,  Treasurer. 

POV/IIATAN  COUNTY. 

Col.  James  Clark,  President. 
William   Old,   Rev.  Edward  Baptist 
Presidents. 

John  B.  Tinsley.  Secretary. 
Joseph  Da  ,  i  irer. 

Managers. — William  Pope,  Joseph  Hobson, 


The  Virginian  History  of  ,/Jfrican  Colonization. 


13 


Rev.  Dan.  A.  Penick,  Thomas  Scott,  Joseph 
Davis,  John  Daniel,  William  L.   Montague, 
William  Sublitt,  John  Gilliam. 
!'ON  COUNTY. 

James  Monroe,  President. 

Samuel  Murray,  Ludvvell  Lee,  Israel  Jau- 
ney.  James  Moore,  Mahlon  Taylor,  Samuel 
Nichols,  Isaac  Brown,  Sydney  Baily,  Johnson 
Cleaveland,  Burr  Powell,  James  Heaton, 
William  Elzey,  William  Noland.  Vice  Presi- 
dents. 
nR.  D.  Henderson,  Treasurer. 

Richard  H.  Lee,  Sf.crr.tnry. 

CHARLESTOWN,  JEFFERSON  COUNTY. 

Doctor  Samuel  I.  Cramer,  President. 

Bushrod  C.  Washington,  Adam  Weaver, 
Henry  S.  Turner,  John  T.  A.  Washington, 
George  W.  Humphreys,  Nathaniel  Craighill, 
Vice  Presidents. 

Robert  Washington,  Treasurer. 

John  Marshall,  Secretary. 

SHEPIIERDSTOWN. 

James  S.  Lane,  President. 

John  Baker,  Vice  President. 

John  Cookus,  Treasurer. 

Geo.  C.  P.  Kranth,  Secretary. 

ROCKINGHAM  COUNTY. 

Hon.  Daniel  Smith,  President. 

Doctor  Peachy  Harrison,  Major  John  Ken- 
ney,  Rev.  Daniel  Baker,  Col.  Samuel  H.  Lew- 
is, Vice  Presidents. 

Dr.  Peachy  Harrison,  James  Bush,  Sees. 

David  Steele,  Treasurer. 

LYNCIIBURG. 

Rev.  John  Early,  President. 

Rev.  William  S.  Reid,  Rev.  F.  G.  Smith, 
Vice  Presidents. 

Robert  Toler,  Secretary. 

John  C  aside,  Treasurer. 

Managers. — John  Victor  (Mayor),  Will.  J. 
Holcombe,  David  R.  Edley,  Samuel  Brans- 
ford,  Elijah  Fletcher,  James  Newhall,  N.  M. 
Taliaferro,  John  D.  Urquhart,  Chris.  Umfree, 
John  Thurmon,  David  G.  Munell,  Dr.  John 
J.  Cabell. 

MECKLENBURG  COUNTY. 
Thos.  M.  Nelson,  President. 
Managers.— A.  W.  Venable,   S.  V.   Wat- 
kins,  Ed.  R.  Chambers,  Col.  J.  Baptist. 

CAMPBELL  COUNTY. 

T.  Wilson,  President. 


BEDFORD  COUNTY, 

F.  F.  Lcftwich,  Preside 

ROCKBR1DGE  COUNTY. 

Capt.  R.  White,  President. 

There  were  many  other  Auxiliary  Socie- 
ties in  Virginia,  composed  of  the  largest 
slave  holders  and  most  respectable  citizens 
of  the  State.  We  regret  that  we  have  not 
just  now  an  accurate  list  of  them.  Every 
one  who  knows  Virginia,  will  accredit  the 
foregoing  names  as  fair  repiesentatives  of 
the  intelligence,  moral  worth  and  property 
of  the  several  counties  in  which  they  lived. 

If  we  possessed  the  records  of  these  So- 
cieties they  would,  doubtless,  contribute  many 
interesting  materials  to  the  illustration  of  our 
history.  We  have  fragments  of  reports,  me- 
morials and  other  documents  of  these  auxi- 
liaries, to  which  we  shall  have  occasion  to 
refer  in  the  progress  of  our  work. 

The  only  Society  in  this  State  whose  re- 
cords are  preserved  entire,  is  the  "  Rich- 
mond and  Manchester  Society." 

On  the  4th  of  November,  1823,  the  citi- 
zens of  Richmond  anjl  Manchester  met  in 
the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Delegates,  for  the 
purpose  of  considering  the  propriety  of  form- 
ing a  society,  auxiliary  to  the  American  Col- 
onization Society.  Win.  H.  Fitzwhylson 
was  called  to  the  chair,  and  James  E.  Heath 
appointed  Secretary.  After  an  address  by 
the  Rev.  R.  Randolph  Gurley,  a  Society  was 
organized  by  the  adoption  of  a  constitution, 
and  the  election  of  officers,  whose  names 
have  been  already  reported. 

It  was  an  auspicious  omen  for  the  Society, 
that  such  a  man  as  Chief  Justice  Marshall, 
who  by  his  valor  in  the  field  and' his  wisdom 
in  council,  his  simple  manners  and  spotless 
life,  had  won  a  National  reputation,  and  in- 
spired a  universal  esteem,  was  found  willing 
to  lend  to  it  the  weight  of  his  great  name 
and  character.  And  it  was  an  edifying  ex- 
ample to  his  countrymen,  to  see  the  Chief 
Justice  of  the  United  States  as  punctual  in 
attending  the  meetings  of  a  benevolent  so- 
ciety, and  presiding  over  its  deliberations 
with  the  same  meekness  of  wisdom  and  ap- 
parent interest,  as  he  did  over  the  Supreme 
Court.  The  board  of  managers  not  only 
passed  resolutions,  but  in  token  of  their  ear- 
nestness, appointed  from  among  themselves, 
committees  to  solicit  subscriptions  and  dona- 


14 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


tions  in  each  ward  of  the  City  and  of  Man- 
chester. They  fixed  the  24th  of  June.  as 
the  day  of  the  first  general  meeting  of  the 
Society,  and  requested  Messrs.  H.  E.  Wat- 
kins,  Robert  Douthat,  R.  G.  Scott  and  John 
Rutherford,  to  make  addresses  in  exposition 
of  the  views  and  purposes  of  the  Society. 

On  the  '24th,  tin;  Society  met  and  were 
addressed  with  earnestness  and  eloquence 
by  Messrs.  Rutherford  and  Scott.  Mr.  Fif/- 
whylson  read  the  annual  report,  in  which  the 
managers  express  their  gratification  at  the 
encouraging  facts  in  the  history  of  the 
Colony  and  of  the  Society.  Its  Affairs  they 
say  "  are  managed  by  gentlemen  as  distin- 
guished for  talents,  virtue  and  patriotism  as 
any  in  the  Union.  Men  of  the  first  stand- 
ing in  the  country  are  daily  strengthening  its 
interests  by  accessions  to  its  lists  of  subscri- 
bers. The  government  of  the  United  States 
has  vouchsafed  its  patronage,  and  in  several 
instances,  rendered  important  aid  to  the  Co- 
lony. The  removal  of  the  Colonists  from 
Sherbro  to  Mesurado  (Liberia)  has  greatly 
conduced  to  their  security,  health  and  com- 
fort. A  vessel  has  just  sailed  from  James 
River  with  one  hundred  emigrants,  to  the  fit- 
ting out  of  which  this  Society  has  materially 
contributed.  These  auspicious  circumstan- 
ces in  the  incipient  stage  of  such  a  serious 
enterprise,  comprehending  within  the  sphere 
of  its  operations,  such  a  variety  of  interests, 
feelings  and  opinions,  ought  to  add  fervor  to 
hope,  and  energy  to  exertion  ;  and  if  favor- 
ed by  the  benign  approbation  of  the  great 
and  awful  being  in  whose  dispensations  are 
the  issues  of  all  things,  it  cannot  fail  of  be- 
ing ultimately  crowned  with  a  success,  hon- 
orable to  the  present  and  beneficial  to  future 
generations.  The  receipts  of  the  Society 
for  the  ten  weeks  elapsing  since  its  forma- 
tion, were  $527. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Mayo,  Messrs.  Scotland 
Rutherford  were  requested  to  furnish  the 
Secretary  with  a  copy  of  their  addresses  to 
be  published  with  the  Annual  Report. 

During  (he  year  intervening  between  the 
present  and  the  next  general  meeting,  the 
Board  of  Managers  continued  to  meet  regu- 
larly for  the  transaction  of  business,  and  their 
minutes  are  generally  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent. 


On  the  17th  of  January  1825,  the  Society 
held  the  next  general  meeting. 

The  annual  report  was  read.  In  this  doc- 
ument the  managers  disavow  all  interference 
with  private  rights  and  declare  the  single 
purpose  of  '-the  society  to  be  to  afford  io 
suchfrrr.  persons  of  color  as  choose  to  emi- 
grate, the  means  of  transportation  to  Africa, 
and  to  provide  lor  their  comfort  for  a  reason- 
able period. 

That  our  society  has  arrested  the  attention 
of  our  most  intelligent  citizens  and  com- 
manded their  approbation  is  proved  by  the 
fact  that  more  than  twenty  societies  now  ex- 
ist in  Virginia,  six  of  which  have  been  form- 
ed in  the  past  year.  At  our  last  annual  meet- 
ing we  had  38  life  members,  and  36  annual 
subscribers.  Now  we  have  45  life  members 
and  110  annual  subscribers.  In  a  few  days 
another  vessel  is  expected  to  sail  from  James 
River  with  75  emigrants,  to  the  expense  of 
whose  outfit  this  branch  of  the  society  will 
contribute  one  third." 

The  tide  of  emigration  among  the  free  ne- 
groes had,  during  the  past  year,  increased 
into  a  strong  current.  Applications  so  far 
exceeded  the  means  of  transportation,  that 
the  society  was  embarassed  in  making  selec- 
ions.  Advantage  was  taken  of  this  fact  and 
a  strong  effort  was  made  to  divert  the  cur- 
rent from  Liberia  to  St.  Domingo.  An  agent 
came  over  from  Hayti  with  tempting  offers. 
and  succeeded  in  inducing  many  respectable 
colored  persons  to  try  their  fortunes  in  the 
West  Indies.  The  managers  notice  this  fact 
and  say,  "  they  would  not  willingly  do  any 
hing  to  clamp  the  hopes  of  the  emigrants  to 
Hayti  ;  but  they  do  not  think  it  inappropri- 
ate to  make  a  few  suggestions  for  their  con- 
sideration. The  emigrant  to  Hayti  will  have 
he  advantage  of  an  old  settled  government. 
iut  on  the  other  hand  he  will  find  a  strange 
people,  speaking  another  language,  and  a 
government  in  whose  administration  tor 
many  years  he  cannot  hope  to  hare  a  voice  : 
this  government  having  an  established  Stair 
religion  new  to  him. 

In  Africa  he  will  find  as  productive  a  soil 
and  as  salubrious  a  climate — a  people  speak- 
ing the  same  language,  professing  the  same 
religion,  and  governed  by  laws  dictated  bv 
flifiii:-elves.  And  then  in  Liberia  they  will 
aid  in  extinguishing  the  nefarious  slave 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


15 


trade."  The  managers  also  enumerate  the 
benefits  to  the  white  and  the  black  races — 
to  America  and  to  Africa— which  are  likely 
to  flow  from  the  success  of  Liberia,  and  sug- 
gest the  propriety  of  applying  ta  the  State 
and  Federal  governments  for  aid. 

"  The  Society,  (they  say,)  only  undertook 
to  prove  from  actual  experiment,  the  practica- 
bility of  the  enterprise,  so  that  the  Govern- 
ment might  not  squander  the  public  money 
in  a  chimerical  design,"  &.c. 

It  was  also  determined  to  memorialize  the 
Legislature  for  aid  to  the  Colonists  in  the 
form  of  implements  of  husbandry,  &.C.,  from 
the  Penitentiary.  A  committee  consisting 
of  Judge  Marshall,  Gov.  Pleasants,  Messrs. 
Munford,  Scott  and  Rutherford  was  appoint- 
ed to  prepare  the  memorial.  John  Tyler 
was  requested  to  present  it  to  the  House  of 
Delegates.  The  application  was  successful. 
The  General  Assembly,  on  the  10th  of  Feb- 
ruary, passed  an  act  appropriating  $500  in 
goods  to  be  estimated  at  the  lowest  cash 
price  at  which  such  things  were  sold  at  the 
Penitentiary  Store. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  managers  on  the  16th 
of  December,  Messrs.  Heath,  Fitzwylson 
and  Nicholas  were  instructed  to  prepare  a 
Report  for  the  next  annual  meeting,  and 
Messrs.  Upshur,  Scott,  Rutherford  and  Wat- 
kins  were  requested  to  deliver  addresses. 

The  General  Meeting  was  held  on  the 
16th  of  January,  1826. 

The  Report  congratulates  the  Society  upon 
its  increasing  numbers — on  the  accession  of 
distinguished  citizens  who  have  adorned  the 
councils  and  exalted  the  reputation  of  the 
country.  It  institutes  a  striking  comparison 
between  the  early  histories  of  Virginia  and 
Liberia — draws  a  graphic  picture  of  the  de- 
graded condition  of  our  free  negroes,  and 
represents  the  benefits  to  us  and  to  them  ol 
their  removal  to  Liberia,  and  rejoices  in  the 
prospect  of  thus  extinguishing  the  "execra- 
ble slave  trade" — "'that  monument  of  the- 
cupidity  and  cruelty  of  civilized  nations." 

Messrs.  John  Y.  Mason,  Upshur,  Walkins, 
Douthat,  Jackson  and  other  members  of  the 
Assembly,  are  requested  to  take  charge  of 
the  memorial  asking  Legislative  aid. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  under  the  auspices 
of  Mr.  Upshur,  a  bill  passed  the  Legislature 


by  a  majority  of  41,  making  a  donation  to 
the  colony  of  $800  in  articles  manufactured 
at  the  Penitentiary.  Gen.  Blackburn,  of 
Bath,  said  in  the  course  of  the  debate  :  "  I 
would  vote  for  $5,000.  Could  I  believe,  (he 
added,)  that  a  century  hence,  this  little  col- 
ony would  resemble  one  of  the  small  colo- 
nies on  the  shores  of  this  continent,  it  would 
cheer  my  dying  hour.  This  subject  has  been 
connected  with  the  Missouri  question — it  has 
nothing  to  do  with  it.  It  has  been  called  an 
Abolition  Society  with  as  little  reason." 

On  the  20th  of  January,  1827,  the  Society 
had  its  annual  meeting.  In  the  Report  the 
managers  say,  "  Our  Society,  assailed  as  it 
has  been  by  opposition,  varied  according  to 
the  local  prejudices  of  its  foes,  has  proceed- 
ed with  all  the  success  the  most  sanguine 
could  anticipate.  Its  views  though  happily 
conceived  and  clearly  expressed,  have  been 
exaggerated  or  misrepresented.  No  argu- 
ment has  been  fairly  opposed  to  it  but  its 
impracticability — an  assertion  refuted  by  the 
experiment.  All  other  opposition  seems  to 
have  arisen  from  groundless  jealousy  or  cause- 
less alarm."  The  Board  of  Managers  met 
as  usual  for  the  transaction  of  business  du- 
ring the  year.  Messrs.  Rutherford,  Burr  and 
Crane  were  instructed  to  prepare  a  report 
for  the  next  general  meeting.  Messrs.  Ruth- 
erford and  Heath  were  requested  to  prepare 
a  memorial  to  the  Legislature,  and  Messrs. 
R.  G.  Scott,  Thomas  Marshal  and  Edward 
Colston  were  desired  to  deliver  addresses  at 
the  next  anniversary,  which  had  been  ap- 
pointed for  the  17th  of  December,  upon 
which  occasion  Mr.  Rutherford  presented  a 
very  able  Report  from  which  we  can  only 
make  a  few  brief  extracts.  "The  fears  of 
the  timid — the  misconceptions  and  prejudi- 
ces of  the  ignorant — the  misrepresentations 
and  denunciations  of  the  determined  foes  of 
this  scheme  have  all  conspired  to  retard  and 
distract  the  laudable  efforts  of  its  patrons. 
Regardless,  however  of  all  impediments  and 
indifferent  to  all  reproaches — conscious  of 
the  purityof  our  intentions  and  trusting  in  the 
protection  of  a  wise  and  merciful  Providence, 
we  have  advanced  steadily  to  the  consumma- 
tion of  our  object.  The  gloomy  predictions 
of  our  opponents  have  been  falsified — the 
tears  and  prejudices  of  the  well-meaning, 
but  misguided,  have  been  dispelled,  while 


!6 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


the  scoffs  and  reproaches  of  malignity  have 
been  in  a  measure  silenced  by  success." 
"  Virginia  will  not  abandon  a  .scheme  to 
which  she  gave  the  first  impulse.  We  can- 
not doubt  but  that  while  the  policy  of  her 
laws  expels  from  her  territory  all  emancipa- 
ted slaves,  she  will  do  what  she  can  to  pro- 
cure them  an  asylum.  Justice  and  humanity 
require  this  at  her  hands,  and  we  cannot  be- 
lieve that  an  appeal  to  the  justice  and  human- 
ty  of  Virginia  will  be  made  in  vain." 

The  Hon.  John  Marshall,  John  Tyler  and 
R.  G.  Scott,  were  appointed  to  represent  this 
Society  at  the  approaching  anniversary  of 
the  American  Colonization  Society  at  Wa-h- 
ington. 

Special  efforts  were  made  during  this  year 
to  raise  funds  for  the  transportation  of  a  larsre 
company  of  emigrants  from  Richmond. 

The  committee  to  prepare  a  Report  for 
the  next  general  meeting,  were  instructed  to 
consider  the  expediency  of  changing  this 
Society  into  a  State  Society  to  be  composed 
of  the  present  members  and  of  delegates 
from  other  societies  in  this  State. 

The  Rockbridge    Auxiliary    Society-    had 
been  for  several  years   in   Active    operation. 
At  its  anniversary  of  this  year  it  promulge.d 
the  following  excellent  sentiments  in  i 
port.     The  scheme  of  our  society   is   not  a 
new  one.     When  the  .-age*,   of  (he   Revolu- 
tion directed  our  affairs,  the  (ieneral  A 
bly  of  Virginia  adopted  it,    and   would  have 
proceeded  with  it  as  the   proper   bu.-ii, 
government  if  they  could   have   procured  a 
foreign  territory  adapted  to  the  purpose.  The 
scheme  itself  is  ;i  simple;  one.     It   i.-  to  re- 
store the  free  people  of  color  with  the, 
consent  to  the    land    of    their   forefathers. 
There  is  to  be  no  meddling  with  propeitv  in 
slaves.     The  rights  of  masters   are   secured 
in  tin  'he  -Dciely.      The  tend* 

the  scheme  und  one  D|'  it-,  object-    i-    to  se- 
cure slave-holder.-  ami   the    whole    Southern 
country    against    certain   c-vil    consequence: 
growing  out  of  the  piv-ent  threefold  mixture 
of  our  population.     If   ,-lavehulders 
choose    to  liberate    their    sla\-.-s    the 
will  taki-  thriii.      il\eiy    thing  is  voluntary. 
We  can  |iercei\  ,-  iiolhiii.  principles 

s-.'ii  the  timid   or    offend    the    con 

.  -veholders    who 
have'  M.oiied    from    liberating  theii 


by  considerations  of  humanity  ;md 
policy.  They  do  not  believe  that  they  would 
be  benefitted  by  manumission  here,  and  it  is 
inexpedient  to  swell  the  number  of  the  free 
colored  people. 

The  Society  in  Powhatan  seems  to  have 
been  a  very  /ealous  one.  Among  the  docu- 
ments which  proceeded  from  it.  was  a  me- 
morial from  which  we  quote  a  few  paragraphs 
illustrating  its  conservative  tone  and  itsstron;1: 


common  sense  views. 


Memorial  of  the  Auxiliary  Society  of  Pow- 
hatan  county.  '.::..  to  the  General  Assembly 
of  Virginia  : 

''It  has  1  that  the  Society,  under 

••clous  pretext  of  removing   a    vicious 
and  noxious  population  (the  free  negro. 
secretly   undermining  the   rights   of  private 
property.     This  is    - 

full  force,  and  if  your  memorialists 
could  for  a  moment  believe  it  to  be  true  in 
point  of  fact,  they  would  never,  slaveholders 
as  they  are,  ha-  ..ifed  the; 

gcther  for  the  j,nrpo-e  of  'cooperating  in  this 
and  far  less  would  they  have  appear- 
aiemorialists  before  the  Legislative  bo- 
f  a    slave-holding  State.      And   if  any 
instance  could  now  be  adduced  in  which  the 
Society  has  ever  manifested   an  intention  to 
depart  from  the  avowed  C  which  it 

;dly  instituted,  none,  would  more 
willingly  and"  readily  withdraw  from  it  their 
confidence  and  support.  Hut  from  the  time 
of  ils  formation  to  the  pre.-vnt  time,  all  its 
operations  have  bei-n  din  lusivply  to 

the  pi  •  ('t  namely 

HI  Africa  of  the  free  people 
of    color.      It    h  nnd 

It  us  it   again    prote.-t  .  that   it    has  no 
interfere  \\illi   the  delicate   and  im- 
portant subject  ,  .      //  /•'/ 
xnt-itir  '{/'  lv  the 

io  invade  the  Iranquilli- 

i  ircle.  nor  !he  peace  and 

iciety.     H  would  regard  the  inter- 

acon- 

stitutional.  and  .nt  usurpation  of  tin: 

. 

Virginia  should  he  ho-hi 

•    :-'oiem:ily 

•M:t-d    all    intention    of   intermeddling 
;lin  ttly  ,.:th  the  private 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


17 


property  of  individuals,  and  since  no  instance 
of  departure  from  its  original  design  has 
ever  occurred. 

In  connection  with  this  subject,  we  beg 
leave  to  mention,  that  the  General  Assembly 
of  Virginia,  in  1805,  passed  an  act  forbid- 
ding emancipated  slaves  to  remain  within  the 
commonwealth  longer  than  12  months,  un- 
der pain  of  forfeiting  their  freedom.  This 
law,  odious  as  it  may  appear  at  first  view, 
was  doubtless  dictated  by  sjjund  policy,  and 
the  friends  of  colonization  would  deprecate 
its  repeal.  It  has  restrained  many  masters 
from  freeing  their  slaves,  and  thus  contribu- 
ted to  check  the  growth  of  an  evil  already 
too  great.  Some  overlooking  all  considera- 
tions of  policy  and  prudence,  and  yielding 
only  to  the  strong  impulse  of  their  own  feel- 
ings, do  not  hesitate  to  turn  loose  their  slaves 
upon  society,  who  generally  in  a  short  time 
become  a  burden  to  themselves  and  a  nui- 
sance to  all  around  them.  But  in  denying 
these  people  a  residence  in  Virginia,  the 
General  Assembly  provided  no  asylum  else- 
where, and  hence  it  has  come  to  pass  that 
petitions  after  petitions  are  annually  presen- 
ted to  the  Legislature.  The  rejection  of 
these  petitions  (except  in  extraordinary  ca- 
ses) has  led  to  notorious  evasions  of  the  law 
above  referred  to.  Now  the  Colonization 
Society  comes  seasonably  in  aid  of  this  abuse, 
by  opening  on  the  coast  of  Africa  a  safe  and 
hospitable  asylum  to  which  maybe  removed 
not  only  such  persons  of  color  as  are  born 
free,  but  such  as  may  be  made  free  by  the 
act  of  their  owners.  The  consequence  will 
be  that  the  man  who  may  desire  from  what- 
ever motive  to  give  freedom  to  his  slaves, 
instead  of  casting  them  unfriended  and  pen- 
niless upon  the  community  as  was  often  the 
case  formerly,  will  send  them  to  Liberia  at 
once  blessing  themselves  and  our  own  coun- 
try. And  when  the  advantages  of  this  scheme 
shall  be  more  fully  developed,  the  act  of 
1805  will  cease  to  be  evaded.  The  General 
Assembly  will  no  longer  be  annoyed  with 
petitions  from  free  people,  and  manumission 
cease  to  be  what  it  now  is,  an  injury  to  the 
slave  and  a  curse  to  the  country.  Signed  in 
behalf  of  the  society. 

JAMES  CLARKE,  Pres. 
JOHN  B.  TINSLY,  Sec. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Richmond  and  Manchester  auxiliary 
changed  into  an  Independent  State  Society, 
called  the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia, 
and  new  constitution  adopted,  fyc. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Richmond  and  Man- 
cester  Society  auxiliary  to  the  American 
Colonization  Society,  held  in  the  hall  of  the 
House  of  Delegates,  on  the  15th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1828,  Judge  Marshall  having  taken  the 
chair,  J.  H.  Eustace  was  appointed  secreta- 
ry. R.  G.  Scott,  on  the  part  of  the  Board 
of  Managers,  read  the  Annual  Report,  giv- 
ing an  encouraging  account  of  the  opera- 
tions and  present  state  of  the  Society  which 
had  contributed  $816  10  to  the  cause  of  the 
Parent  Society  during  the  preceding  year. — 
The  Report  represents  that  by  the  diffusion 
of  correct  information,  the  public  mind  had 
been  in  a  great  measure  disabused  as  to  the 
real  objects  of  the  Society,  and  the  clouds 
of  prejudice  were  passing  away. 

The  managers  take  leave  to  suggest  to  the 
meeting,  that  they  are  of  opinion,  the  change 
of  this  Society  into  a  State  Society,  or  the 
creation  of  a  State  Society,  to  which  the 
other  Societies  in  the  State  should  be  auxili- 
ary, and  annually  send  delegates,  would  be 
attended  with  very  beneficial  effects.  They 
therefore  earnestly  recommend  this  measure. 

The  deep  interest  which  Virginia  has  in 
the  success  of  this  Society,  and  the  favora- 
ble expression  of  her  opinions  heretofore  on 
the  subject,  induce  the  Managers  to  recom- 
mend that  an  application  should  be  made  to 
the  present  General  Assembly  for  further 
aid.  Nor  can  the  Managers  doubt  of  the 
success  of  the  application,  when  the  objects 
and  views  of  the  Society  are  properly  under- 
stood and  when  it  is  recollected,  that  the 
laws  of  Virginia  forbid  emancipation  ;  but 
upon  condition  that  the  emancipated  slave 
shall  remove,  except  in  rare  cases.  Is  it  not 
just  then,  that  the  means  of  removal  should 
be  facilitated  and  afforded?  To  Virginia  an 
appeal  of  justice  has  never  been  made  in 
vain ;  and  when  sustained  by  philanthropy, 
humanity  and  policy,  we  are  not  permitted 
to  doubt  of  its  success. 


18 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


On  motion  of  Mr.  Rutherfoor<l,ihe  follow- 
ing resolution  was  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  th<;  members:  of  the  Leg- 
islature and  all  others  present,  who  may  be 
members  of  any  Colonization  Society,  or 
disposed  to  favor  the  general  objects  thereof, 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  invited,  to  partici- 
pate in  the  deliberations  ol  this  mooting. 

Mr.  John  F.  May,  of  Petersburg,  prex  nt- 
ed  to  the  meeting  the  following  resolution  of 
the  Petersburg  Auxiliary  Coloni/ntion  Soci- 
ety : 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Petersburg 
Auxiliary  Colonization  Society,  the  follow- 
ing resolution  was  unanimously  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  respectfully 
suggest  to  the  Richmond  and  Manchester 
Society,  whether  great  advantages  would  not 
result  from  the  reorganization  of  that  Socie- 
ty on  the  plan  of  a  State  Society,  and  that 
Vice  President  John  F.  May.  bo  requested  to 
attend  that  meeting,  and  communicate  to  it 
his  resolution. 

Whereupon,    on    motion    of  Mr.    Kuther- 
foord,  seconded  by  Mi.  Win.  H.Fil/hugh  of 
Fairfax,  the  following  preamble,    and    : 
lion  were  adopted  : 

IVkereay,  \\.  \*  represented  loth--  pp. --iir 
meeting,  that  the  great  object  which  induced 
the  establishment  of  this  and  the  other  So- 
cieties in  Virginia,  auxiliary'  to  the  Ameri- 
.can  Colonization  Society,  would  be  more 
effectually  advanced  throughout  this  Com- 
monwealth by  an  Auxiliary  State  Society,  to 
be  composed  of  a  parent  institution  in  this 
city,  and  such  auxiliaries  thereto.  «s  may 
hereafter  be  formed  : 

Be  it  therefore  resolved,  i'iiat  ;t  committee 
be  appointed  to  amend  the  constitution  of 
this  Society,  and  that  I!K-  s.-.mc  shall  hereaf- 
ter be  culled  "The  Colonization  Society  of 
Virginia." 

A  Committee  was  according!}  appointed, 
who  presented  to  the  meeting  a  Constitution 
amended  as  aforesaid,  which  being  consider- 
ed, was  approved  and  adopted  as  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  Colonization  Society  of  Vir- 
ginia, as  follows,  to  wit  : 


CONSTITUTION    OF    THE    COLONIZATION  SOCIE- 
TY   OF    VIRGINIA. 

Art.  1st.  The  Society  shall  be  denominat- 
ed the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia. 

An.  3d.  Any  person  who  shall  contribute 
two  dollars  annually  to  the  funds  of  the  So- 
ciety, shall  be  a  member,  ;md  the  payment 
at  any  one  time  of  not  less  than  ten  dollars, 
shall  constitute  membership  for  life. 

Art.  3d.  The  officers  of  this  Society  shall 
evident,  twelve  Vice-Presidents,  a  Re- 
cording Secretary,  a  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary, and  a  Treasurer,  who  with  twelve  other 
members,  shall  compose  a  Board  of  Mana- 
gers They  ^hall  be  elected  annually,  and 
shall  be  competent  to  fill  any  vacancies  which 
may  occur  in  the  Board  from  resignation  or 
otherwise.  Five  member?  shall  constitute  :i 
quorum  for  business. 

Art.  4th.  Every  Society  within  the  State, 
which  shall  become  auxiliary  to  this  Society, 
shall  be  entitled  to  send  three  representa- 
tives to  attend  ritid  vote  at  all  the  meetings 

O 

of  the  Society. 

Ait.  5th.  The  Officers  of  this  Society  not 
resident  in  Richmond,  and  the  Secretaries  of 
Societies  auxilhry  to  this,  shall  be  ex  ofticio 
correspondent.-  thereof,  and  the  Board  of 
Manager?  shall,  as  soon  as  practicable,  and 
annually  thereafter,  appoint  one  or  more  ad- 
ditional correspondents  in  every  county  and 
corporation  in  the  Commonwealth.  Ii  shd 
be  the  duty  ol'  tho  correspondents  to  com- 
municate :  '  ::iiing  Secretary 
from  time  t"ti:n.-.  any  information  calculated 
to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Society. 

Art.  6th.  Annual  meetings  of  the  Society 
shall  ha  held  in  Richmond,  nt  such  time  du- 
ring the  session  of  the  Legislature.  a>  tl,. 
Managers  may  appoint. 

Art.  7th.  This  Constitution  may  be  altered 
only  at  a  regular  meeting,  and  by  a  vote  of 
two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Burr,  (in  pursuance  of 
the  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Mana- 
it  was  Resolved,  That  in  conformity 
with  the  recommendation  of  the  Annual 
Report,  to  apply  to  the  General  Assembly  at 
this  session  for  aid,  the  Managers  be  in- 
structed to  prepare  and  present  a  Memorial 
for  that  purpose. 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization, 


19 


The  Society  then  proceeded  to  the  appoint-  j  the  peace  of  the  country  and  the  prosperity 
ment  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  when! of  the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia.  Up 
the  following  gentlemen  were  duly  etected,  Jo  this  point  the  cause  had  been  quietly  and 
to  wit :  i  gradually  working  its  way  to  public  favor, 

JOHN  MARSHALL,  JV**ufeii/;  James  Mad i-j  and  would  have  Probably  soon  become  the 
son,  James  Monroe,  James  Pleasant*,  John  i  established  policy  of  the  State. 

diaries  now  began  to  throw 


But  incen- 

T<  i  TT   TV*  TJ    n/r        manes  uuw  ucxau  lu  uji'uw   fire-brands  int( 

lyler,  William  H.  Fiizniign,  John   F.  May, 

n       T>  •  n  »  u    •      TM.M-     T»  jj  •  "     the  bosom  or  our  peaceful  community7,  and 

Gen.  Bnscoe   G.  Baldwin,  Philip  Doddnge,  i 

,,  the   scene   was   suddenly  changed.      As   a 

Hugh    NeUon,    Gen.    Wm.    H.    Broadnax, 

William  Maxwell,  and  Dr.  Thomas  Massie, 

Vice  Presidents. 
Benjamin  Brand,  Treasurer: 

William  Barret,  Secretary;  tion  of  the  prmcipleS)  purposes,  history  and 

John    Rutherfoord,    Corresponding   Score-  prOspects  of  the  Colonization  Society. 


suddenly 

strong  indication  of  public  sentiment,  we 
ask  attention  to  the  following  able  report  of 
a  committee  of  the   General   Assembly  of 
i  Virginia.     It  is  a  thorough  and  able  exposi- 


tary ; 
And 


Wm.    H.    Fitzwhylson,    Robert   G. 


Scott,  Hall  Neilson,  John  H.  Eustace,  Jas. 
Blair,  William  Crane,  David  I.  Burr.  Jas.  E. 
Heath,  Nicholas  Mills,  James  Caskie,  Thomas 


The  history  of  the  subject  does  not  fur- 
nish a  more  comprehensive  and  statesman- 
like discussion  than  does  this  report. 

On  the  28th  of  December  1828,  Mr.  John 
F.  May  presented  a  petition  from  the  Colo- 
nization Society  of  Petersburg,  and  Col.^  John 


C.  Howard    and    Fleming  James,   an  other 
Managers, 

Resolved,  That  500  copies  of  the   Report,  jzation  Society  of  Virginia,  asking  legislative 
together  with  the  Constitution  and  Proceed- i  aid  to  promote  the  views  of  the  Society   in 


Rutherfoord  presented  one  from  the  Coloni- 


ings  of  the  Meeting,  be  printed  in  pamphlet 
form,  and  that  a  copy  thereof  be  forwarded 
to  all  the  officers  and  correspondents  of  the 
Society. 

Resolved,  That  the  Editors  in  the  city  be 
requested  to  publish  the  proceedings  of  this 
meeting  in  their  respective  papers. 

And  then  the  Society  adjourned. 

JOHN  H.  EUSTACE. 
Secretary,  pro  tern. 

The  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia  now 
commences  its  career  as  an  independent 
State  organization.  It  is  no  longer  the  Ame- 
rican Colonization  Society.  The  Virginia 
society  is  more  distinct  from  and  independent 
of  the  American  Society  than  the  State  of 
Virginia  is  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

The  design  of  this  new  organization  was 
to  make  Richmond  instead  of  Washington 
the  centre  of  operations  in  Virginia.  There 
was  a  growing  jealousy  in  the  South  of  all 
interference  with  any  question  touching  the 
colored  race  by  any  person  or  association, 
without  the  territory  of  Virginia,  and  not 
identified  in  principles,  interest  and  sympa- 


colonizing  the  free  people  of  color.  These  pe- 
titions were,  withone  from  the  Powhatan  So- 
ciety now  referred  on  motion  of  Mr.  May,  to 
a  select  committee  "to  examine  the  matter 
thereof,  and  report  their  opinion  to  the  House 
of  Delegates.  The  committee  consisted  of 
John  F.  May,  John  Rutherfoord,  Wm.  M. 
Rives,  Wm.  H.  Fitzhugh,  Philip  Doddridge 
and  Messrs.  White,  Brown,  Nelson,  Boyd, 
Anderson  and  Tyler.  The  report  was  as 
follows : 

Report  of  the  Committee  to  whom  were  refer- 
red the  Memorials  and  Petitions  of  the  So- 
cieties auxiliary  to  MV  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society. 

The  committee  to  whom  were  referred  the 
several  memorials  and  petitions  from  the  So- 
cieties auxiliary  to  the  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society,  have,  according  to  order,  had 
the  same  under  consideration,  and  having 
given  to  the  subject  that  attentive  reflection 
which  its  importance,  and  connection  with 
the  best  interests  of  the  Commonwealth  de- 
mand, have  come  to  the  following  report  and 
resolutions  thereupon  : 


thy  with  our  people.  The  wisdom  of  this!  The  evils  resulting  from  the  condition  of 
conclusion  was  soon  made  clear  by  the  dis-  the  free  coloured  population  amongst  us,  early 
astrous  influence  of  Northern  agitation  upon  aroused  the  anxiety,  and  attracted  the  atten- 


20 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


tion  of  our  predecessors  in  the  administra- 
tion of  this  government.  Resolution^  at  sun- 
dry time  passed  both  branches  of  the  Legis- 
lature, in  secret  session,  to  which  your  com- 
mittee cannot  more  particularly  allude,  as 
the  injunction  of  secrecy  has  never  been  re- 
moved. In  pursuance  of  these  resolutions. 
however,  Mr.  Monroe  in  1801,  being  then 
Governor  of  Virginia,  entered  into  a  corres- 
pondence with  Mr.  Jefferson,  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  consulting  him  on  the 
means  of  procuring  an  asylum  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  United  States,  to  which  that 
description  of  our  population  could  be  sent. 
In  consequence  of  this  correspondence,  and 
the  approval  by  the  Legislature,  at  its  subse- 
quent session,  of  the  plan  suggested  by  Mr. 
Jefferson,  instructions  were  given  to  our  Min- 
ister in  London,  to  endeavour  to  make  some 
arrangement  with  the  Sierra  Leone  Compa- 
ny, by  which  they  should  receive  such  of 
our  free  coloured  population  as  might  be  col- 
onized there.  All  of  this  was  in  accordance 
with  the  secret  resolutions  of  the  Legislature, 
at  its  session  of  1800,  as  is  ascertained  by  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Jefferson,  giving  an  account 
of  these  transactions,  annexed  to  a  report 
made  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  Stales,  Alarch  3,  1827.  Difficulties 
arising  in  the  negotiation,  and  our  own  poli- 
tical relations  assuming  a  threatening  char- 
acter, the  subject  was  dropped  for  a  time, 
but  was  again  resumed  by  the  Legislature, 
at  its  session  of  1816-17,  when  peace  was 
restored  to  the  world,  and  a  resolution  passed 
almost  unanimously,  in  the  following  words  : 
"  Whereas  the  General  Assembly  of  Virgi- 
nia, have  repeatedly  sought  to  obtain  an 
asylum,  beyond  the  limits  of  the  United 
States,  for  such  persons  of  colour  as  had  been 
or  might  be  emancipated,  under  the  laws  of 
this  Commonwealth,  but  have  hitherto  found 
all  their  efforts  frustrated,  either  by  the  dis- 
turbed state  of  other  nations,  or  domestic 
causes  equally  unpropitious  to  its  success  : 

"  They  now  avail  themselves  of  a  period 
when  peace  has  healed  the  wounds  of  hu- 
manity, and  the  principal  nations  of  Europe 
have  concurred  with  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  in  abolishing  the  African 
Slave  Trade,  (a  traffic  which  this  Common- 
wealth, both  before  and  since  the  revolution, 
zealously  sought  to  terminate)  to  renew  this 


effort,  and  do  therefore  resolve,  that  the  Ex- 
ecutive be  requested  to  correspond  with  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obtaining  a  territory  on  the  coast  of 
Africa,  or  some  other  place,  not  within  any 
of  the  States,  or  Territorial  Government  of 
the  United  States,  to  serve  as  an  asylum  for 
such  persons  of  color  as  are  now  free,  and 
may  desire  the  same,  and  for  those  who  may 
be  hereafter  emancipated  within  this  Com- 
monwealth ;  and  that  the  Senators  and  Rep- 
resentatives of  this  State  in  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  be  requested  to  oxort  their 
best  efforts,  to  aid  the  President  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  in  the  attainment  of  the  above  ob- 
ject :  provided  that  no  contract  or  arrange- 
ment respecting  such  territory  shall  be  obli- 
gatory on  this  Commonwealth,  until  ratified 
by  the  Legislature." 

This  resolution  indicated,  in  the  opinion  of 
your  committee,  a  fixed  determination  on  the 
part  of  Virginia  to  undertake,  and  carry  into 
effect  this  great  scheme,  even  with  her  own 
unassisted  means  :  and  they  think  it  proba- 
ble, a  reliance,  not  only  on  the  great  moral 
influence  of  a  Commonwealth  so  deeply  in- 
terested in  this  question,  but  also  on  her  pe- 
cuniary aid,  may  have  had  considerable  in- 
fluence in  founding  the  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society.  At  all  events,  the  formation 
of  this  Society,  soon  after  the  passage  of  the 
above  resolution,  having  precisely  the  objects 
indicated  by  the  Legislature,  viz  :  the  colo- 
nizing, with  their  own  consent,  the  free  peo- 
ple of  colour  on  the  coast  of  Africa;  your 
committee  cannot  but  consider,  an  event  high- 
ly propitious  to  the  views  of  the  Legislature. 
Many  difficulties  must  necessarily  have  oc- 
curred in  any  attempt  to  execute  this  design 
by  Virginia  alone.  In  the  first  place,  if  left 
to  her  public  means,  without  any  organized 
plan  for  eliciting  private  benevolence,  pecu- 
niary embarrassments  might  have  enfeebled 
our  exertions  and  frustrated  the  design,  !>y 
withdrawing  the  necessary  means  in  timr.> 
of  public  difficulty.  Secondly,  had  she  been 
successful,  each  State  might  have  had  its 
Colony,  which  would  necessarily  have  resul- 
ted in  the  extreme  weakness  of  some,  and 
probably  in  an  unhappy  jealousy  and  rivalry, 
which  would  have  endangersdall.  Thirdly, 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


had  the  Colony  been  undertaken  by  the 
State  in  her  sovereign  character,  it  must 
have  been  treated  as  herpossession,  support- 
ed and  defended  by  her,  and  subjected  to  all 
her  relations  of  peace  and  war :  such  a  de- 
pendency upon  one  only  of  twenty-four  as- 
sociated sovereignties,  possessing  individu- 
ally no  power  to  hold  diplomatic  relations 
with  any  power,  no  right  of  ^maintaining  any 
separate  naval  or  military  force,  in  fine 
having  no  national  existence  as  it  regards  for- 
eign nations,  would  not  only  have  presented 
a  curious  anomaly  in  our  political  system, 
but  probably  have  met  with  insuperable  dif- 
ficulties in  the  execution. 

The  formation  of  the  Society,  by  concen- 
trating the  exertions  of  the  humane  through- 
out the  Union,  to  which,  may  be  added  at 
pleasure,  the  munificence  of  the  States,  and 
by  directing  emigration  to  a  single  point,  has 
obviated  the  two  first  objections.  As  to  the 
third,  the  Colony  not  being  subjected  to  the 
sovereignty  either  of  a  State,  or  of  the  Union, 
ought  not  to  be  subjected  to  our  relations  of 
peace  and  war ;  and  it  is  confidently  believed, 
that  nothing  is  wanting  to  secure  its  entire 
neutrality  in  any  conflict  we  may  hereafter 
have  with  a  foreign  power,  but  an  under- 
standing of  its  true  condition.  It  is  believed, 
that  nothing  but  effectual  aid  on  the  part  of 
this  Government  is  wanting,  to  enable  the 
Society  to  fulfil  all  the  humane,  as  well  as 
political  views  of  Virginia,  on  this  interest- 
ing subject. 

Convinced  of  a  coincidence  in  views  be- 
tween the  Legislature  and  the  Society,  your 
committee  next  turned  their  attention,  with 
much  anxiety,  towards  its  operations,  its 
present  condition,  and  its  future  prospects, 
to  discover  in  these  the  evidences  of  its  ca- 
pacity to  fulfil  its  designs. 

They  find,  that  but  eleven  years  have 
elapsed  since  its  formation ;  that  a  want  of 
acquaintance  with  the  actual  condition  of 
Africa,  was  then  almost  universal :  that  the 
Society  had  to  commence  its  operations  by 
obtaining  accurate  information  of  the  coun- 
try to  be  colonized  ;  at  a  time  when  the  anx- 
ious, impatient  expectations  of  its  friends, 
compelled  it  to  do  something  towards  the  at- 
tainment of  its  objects,  even  before  the 
knowledge  necassary  to  prevent  misfortune 


could  be  acquired.  It  is  not  surprising,  there- 
fore, that  untoward  events  threw  a  tempora- 
ry cloud  over  its  commencement.  Since 
then,  a  better  knowledge  of  the  country  has 
enabled  them  to  procure  a  territory  health- 
ful, fertile,  and  sufficiently  extensive  for  all 
the  purposes  of  such  an  asylum  as  has  been 
contemplated  by  Virginia.  Fortifications 
have  been  erected,  a  town  actually  built, 
plantations  opened,  many  public  works  com- 
pleted, and  such  a  number  of  Colonists  seat- 
ed there,  as  in'the  opinion  of  our  committee 
dissipates  all  speculation  as  to  the  practica- 
bility of  their  plans.  They  are  also  con- 
vinced, that  the  Society  have  conducted 
their  operations  with  so  much  prudence,  as 
to  give  no  cause  of  alarm  to  the  holders  of 
slaves,  for  the  security  of  this  property. 

Your  committee  have  next  turned  their  at- 
tention to  the  internal  condition  of  the  Col- 
ony, to  discover  what  hope  it  affords  of  im- 
proving the  condition  of  that  part  of  our  pop- 
ulation, proverbially  degraded  at  home,  upon 
whom  it  is  intended  to  operate,  could  they 
be  induced  to  embrace  the  humane  views  of 
the  Society,  and  the  Legislature.  The  first 
object  of  their  inquiry,  as  most  interesting  to 
human  enjoyment,  was  the  health  of  the 
Colonists,  and  although  from  the  mortality 
which  has  prevailed  amongst  the  whites  em- 
ployed in  this  great  undertaking,  they  are 
convinced  the  climate  is  peculiarly  inimical 
to  them,  yet,  since  their  removal  to  the 
present  situation,  the  health  of  the  blacks  is 
believed  to  have  been  as  good  as  is  usually 
enjoyed  by  other  Colonists.  Persons  remo- 
ving from  a  cold,  or  temperate,  to  a  tropical 
climate,  must  expect  some  sickness  before 
they  become  acclimated,  but  your  committee 
find  here,  the  most  humane  and  salutary  ar- 
rangements, to  lessen  the  danger  and  suffer- 
ing incident  to  this  change.  Large  and 
comfortable  receptacles  for  new  Colonists 
have  been  provided,  where  the  constant  at- 
tendance of  a  person  skilled  by  long  experi- 
ence in  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  with 
all  the  medicines  and  comforts  necessary  to 
their  condition,  are  furnished  the  Colonists 
upon  their  arrival,  until  they  pass  this  peri- 
od ;  such  has  been  the  success  of  this  treat- 
ment, that  amongst  the  last  Colonists  from 
Virginia,  a  mortality  not  exceeding  three  per 
cent,  has  occurred,  and  that  falling  exclu- 


22 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


sively  upon  very  young  children  or  very 
aged  persons.  When  this  season  of  trial  has 
passed,  the  health  enjoyed  by  the  Colonists 
is  believed,  from  the  reports  of  the  agent  and 
from  other  sources  of  information,  not  to  be 
surpassed  by  the  same  population  any  where. 
When  your  committee  compare  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  Colonists  at  Liberia,  with  those 
encountered  in  the  first  attempts  to  plant 
thisxgreat  nation,  they  see  abundant  cause ot 
gratitude  to  Divine  Providence,  rather  than 
despondency.  The  first  three  attempts  to 
colonize  Virginia,  entirely  failed,  and  the 
Colonists  perished  almost  to  a  man.  The 
first  permanent  settlement  was  made  at 
Jamestown  in  May,  1607,  and  consisted  of 
about  100  persons;  in  the  course  of  the  year, 
they  were  reduced  to  38  ;  they  were  rein- 
forced by  the  arrival  of  120  persons,  with 
provisions  and  instruments  of  husbandry. 
Great  exertions  were  made  by  the  proprie- 
tors to  sustain  this  Colony,  and  in  1609,  500 
emigrants  arrived,  yet  in  May,  1610,  it  con- 
sisted of  but  60  persons.  Fresh  supplies  of 
men  and  provisions  were  sent  from  England, 
and  large  sums  of  money  expended  in  furth- 
erance of  the  object,  and  yet  in  1624,  seven- 
teen years  after  the  foundation  of  the  Colo- 
ny, when  the  charter  was  vacated,  the  Colo- 
ny consisted  of  but  1800  souls ;  although 
more  than  9000  persons  had  been  sent  hith- 
er from  England  ;  and  a  sum  exceeding  150, 
OOO/.  (666,000  dollars)  had  been  expended  in 
the  pursuit.  Your  committee  will  not  con- 
sume the  time  of  the  House  in  detailing  the 
disasters  of  New  England,  but  will  compare 
with  this  lii&tory  of  our  Commonwealth,  a 
view  of  the  African  Colony.  There  have 
been  expended  by  the  Society  about  $70,000. 
There  have  been  transported  from  the  Uni- 
ted States  in  their  vessels  about  1000  Colo- 
nists. To  these  must  be  added  about  160 
re-captured  Africans,  sent  back  by  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  who  settled  in 
the  Colon  v.  17-">  natives  rescued  from  slavers 
by  the  Colonists,  and  about  50  native  chil- 
dren going  to  :-chool  in  the  Colony,  making 
about  1385  «oul>.  From  the  latest  informa- 
tion your  committee  can  receive,  when  those  j 
who  are  now  on  their  way,  and  who  are  in-  j 
eluded  in  the  number  stated  above,  to  have  j 
been  sent  out  by  the  Society,  shall  have  ar- 
rived, in  eleven  years  from  the  formation  of 


the*  Society,  and  six  from  the  permanent  lo- 
cation of  the  Colony,  their  population  will 
c.msist  of  1343*  souls.  Your  committe  are 
therefore  by  no  means  dissatisfied  with  the 
prospects  of  health  to  the  Colonists. 

This  important  point  ascertained,  your 
committee  next  turned  their  inquiries  towards 
the  security  of  the  Colonists  from  hostile  at- 
tacks. They  find  that  in  its  infancy,  when 
the  military  means  of  the  Colony  were  at 
their  lowest,  and  their  defences  incomplete, 
two  combined  attacks  were  made  upon  it,  by 
the  native  tribes,  which  were  repelled  with 
great  spirit.  Since  then,  their  numbers  have 
increased  ten  fold,  their  fortifications  have 
been  completed,  their  militia  organized  and 
disciplined,  and  provided  as  they  are  with 
the  means,  have  on  several  occasions  shown 
themselves  not  wanting  in  the  will,  nor  the 
power  to  defend  themselves.  There  is,  too, 
ample  evidence  that  the  natives  are  pacific, 
that  the  moral  influence  of  the  Colony  is 
rapidly  increasing  over  them,  and  that  the 
ties  of  mutual  benefits,  and  commercial  in- 
tercourse, have  left  among  them  but  little  in- 
clination to  disturb  those  relations  of  peace 
which  have  been  established  with  their  now 
powerful  neighbor,  even  should  they  forget 
the  lesson  taught  them,  by  it<  >tt-rn 
tance  in  infancy.  The  power  of  the  Colony 
itself;  the  presence  of  ship*  of  war  contin- 
ually hovering  in  those  seas  to  suppress  tin- 
slave  trade  ;  and  of  commercial  vesssels  tra- 
ding to  that  coast,  afford  ample  security  in 
the  opinion  of  your  committee  against  pirat- 
ical attac! 

With  regard  to  territory,  a  large  extent, 
embracing  several  navigable  creeks  and 
riven,  has  been  obtained,  which  is  capable 
of  producing  corn,  guinea  corn,  millet,  rice, 
cotton,  sugar,  coffee,  with  other  valuable  pro- 
ducts, and  of  sustaining  horses,  cattle,  hogs, 
goats,  sheep,  and  other  useful  animals,  equal 
to  the  demands  of  a  large  population  :  and 
no  doubt  this  may  be  extended  as  their  want? 
may  require  it.  The  commerce  of  the  Col- 
ony has  increased  to  an  importance  which 
will  surprise  those  who  havo  never  inquired 
into  thf  eiibject;  only  two  circumstances 

"  Tin-  number  stated  in  Mr.  (jiirley's  letter,  and  pnl> 
lislied  in  the  Report,  WUP  18-13.  We  have  vrnturctl  to 
correct  tbo  error. — [Editor. 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


23 


evincing  which  will  be  mentioned.  From 
the  reports  of  the  Agent,  Mr.  Ashmun,  who 
your  committee  take  pleasure  in  saying,  ap- 
pears to  be  a  highly  intelligent,  dispassion- 
ate, zealous,  and  pious  man,  it  appears,  the 
exports  of  the  Colony  for  six  months,  from 
the  1st  of  January,  to  the  15th  of  June,  1826, 
amounted,  in  value,  to  $43,980,  upon  which 
a  profit  was  realized  to  the  Colonists,  of  $21, 
990.  In  the  month  of  July  of  the  same 
year,  a  cargo  of  goods,  .worth  $11,000,  ar- 
rived at  Liberia  from  Portland,  which  was 
sold  and  wholly  paid  for  in  ten  days,  the 
regulations  of  the  Colony  prohibiting,  under 
pain  of  forfeitur^,  any  imported  goods  being 
sold  on  credit.  The  result  of  this  state  of 
prosperity  is,  that  every  description  of  la- 
bour is  well  paid,  and  a  poor  Colonist  arri- 
ving without  money  or  any  trade,  can  for  hi? 
ordinary  daily  labour,  command  from  75  to 
125  cents  per  day,  whilst  those  who  have 
good  trades,  receive  $2.  As  a  further  evi- 
dence of  this  propriety,  the  Agent  mentions 
the  fact,  that  of  the  142  re-captured  Afri- 
cans who  arrived  in  August  last,  all  had  ob- 
tained, within  seven  days,  such  wages  and 
employment  in  the  Colony,  as  no  longer  to 
be  a  charge  upon  the  Government.  Not- 
withstanding these  evidences  of  prosperity, 
the  Legislature  will  perhaps  be  surprised^  to 
hear,  that  your  committee  have  good  reason 
to  believe,  that  several  of  the  Colonists  have 
acquired  fortunes  of  from  five  to  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  each. 

Satisfied  on  these  important  points,  your 
committee  next  directed  its  inquiries  to  the 
political  and  moral  state  of  the  Colony,  to 
discover  if  they  were  such  as  to  promise  a 
complete  development  of  these  physical  ad- 
vantages, and  find,  from  the  annual  reports 
of  the  Society,  and  the  accounts  received 
from  the  Agent,  that  a  form  of  Government 
has  been  adopted,  with  which  the  people  are 
perfectly  content,  which  extends  to  them 
perfect  equality  of  rights  and  security  of 
properity,  and  in  which  they  have  as  large 
a  participation  as  is  compatible  with  their 
present  condition.  The  Society  will  doubt- 
less extend  this  participation,  as  the  Colo- 
nists become  qualified  to  exercise  new  privi- 
leges, and  by  a  wise  system  of  instruction, 
are  preparing  them  for  it.  Schools  are  es- 


tablished, and  by  law  all  the  children  are  re- 
quired to  be  educated.  The  effect,  as  the 
Agent  reports,  is,  that  there  is  no  instance  of 
a  child  five  years  old,  unless  it  be  some  late 
emigrant,  who  cannot  read  ;  and  how  great- 
ly the  Colonists  themselves  appreciate  this 
blessing,  will  be  felt,  when  it  is  known  they 
contribute  $1,400  yearly,  to  support  the  sys- 
tem. Indeed,  your  committee  have  the  au- 
thority of  the  Colonists  themselves,  in  a  late 
impressive  address  to  the  free  persons  of  col- 
our in  the  United  States,  for  saying,  that 
such  is  the  equity  with  which  the  Govern- 
ment has  been  administered  by  the  Colonial 
officers,  such  the  liberty  and  equality  of 
rights  which  prevails  among  them,  such  the 
effect  of  removing  them  from  that  continu- 
ally depressing  sense  of  inferiority,  to  which 
they  have  heretofore  been  exposed ;  that 
perhaps  there  exists  no  where  a  happier,  or 
more  contented  community.  From  the  re- 
ports of  the  Agent,  your  committee  feel  jus- 
tified in  reporting  too,  a  high  stale  of  morals 
in  the  Colony.  Churches  have  been  erec- 
ted ;  sobriety,  industry  and  good  order  pre- 
vail ;  and  the  fact  is  developed,  that  even 
this  degraded  population  needs  only  the  or- 
dinary motives  and  incitements  to  exertion, 
to  elevate  their  characters  far  above  any 
moral  worth  we  have  been  accustomed  to  as- 
sign to  it. 

From  this  review  of  the  history,  present 
condition,  and  future  prospects  of  the  Col- 
ony, your  committee  can  feel  no  hesitation 
in  earnestly  recommending  it  to  the  free  peo- 
ple of  colour  in  Virginia,  as  a  proper  asylum 
for  them  and  their  children :  and  as  holdin<* 

O 

forth  to  them,  a  fair  prospect  of  that  wealth, 
respectability  and  moral  improvement,  which 
in  the  United  States  they  can  never  attain. 
They  feel  assured  that  no  motives  of  policy 
could  induce  them  to  give  this  recommenda- 
tion, did  they  not  believe  true  feelings  of 
philanthropy  and  benevolence  towards  that 
species  of  our  population,  supported  them  in 
it.  They  again  most  solemnly  repeat  to  the 
free  coloured  people  of  Virginia  their  belief, 
tha^  ia  Africa  alone  can  they  enjoy  that  com- 
plete emancipation  from  a  degrading  equali- 
ty, which  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  per- 
vades the  United  States,  if  not  in  the  laws, 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


in  the  whole  frame  and  structure  of  society 
and  which  in  its  effects  on  their  moral   and 
social  state  is  scarcely  less   degrading  than 
slavery  itself.     In  Africa,  there  is  a  reason- 1 
able  prospect  of  health,  security  for  life  and! 
property,    perfect   equality    of  condition,    a 
government,    in   the  rights  and   benefits  of 
which  all  participate,  and  ample  means  of 
acquiring  by  industry,  independence,    com- 
fort, and  even  wealth. 

Fully  convinced  of  the  benefits  likely  to 
accrue  to  our  free  coloured  population  from 
emigration  to  this  Colony,  your  committee 
have  next  inquired  into  the  motives  of  poli- 
cy which  should  induce  this  Legislature  to 
extend  such  pecuniary  aid  to  this  Society, 
as  would  enable  them  to  transport  those  who 
may  be  disposed  to  go,  and  to  hold  out 
such  motives  as  will  be  decisive  with  this 
population  to  remove  thither.  The  evils  re- 
sulting to  us  from  their  remaining  here  are 
but  too  well  known,  and  as  policy  compels  us 
to  place  impediments  in  the  way  of  gratify- 
ing those  feelings  which  often  prompt  to  the 
emancipation  of  faithful  slaves,  humanity 
would  require  us  to  furnish  some  asylum  to 
which  they  may  be  sent,  with  benefits  to 
themselves,  and  gratification  to  their  benevo- 
lent owners.  The  prevalence  of  the  free  col- 
oured population  amongst  us,  has  compelled 
the  Legislature  to  engraft  on  its  Criminal 
Code,  provisions  of  peculiar  harshness  in  re- 
lation to  them,  inconsistent  with  the  general 
mild  spirit  of  our  laws  ;  and  the  expense  of 
these  criminal  prosecutions,  forms  no  small 
item  in  our  general  expenditure.  Your  com- 
mittee think  also,  that  as  part  of  a  system 
of  poor  laws,  a  small  sum  annually  applied 
to  their  transportation,  would  be  both  hu- 
mane and  politic.  Great  Britian,  and  per- 
haps other  European  nations,  are  seeking  re- 
lief from  the  burden  of  their  poor,  by  trans- 
porting at  public  expense,  a  portion  of  those 
incapable  of  obtaining  subsistence  at  home, 
to  other  regions  where  it  is  more  easily  pro- 
cured ;  and  the  same  policy  may  be  advan- 
tageous to  us,  with  regard  to  unquestionably 
the  most  degraded  part  of  our  population, 
who  can  never  amalgamate  with  the 
body  of  the  nation.  The  number  of  free 
negroes  in  Virginia,  was,  at  the  last  census, 
about  30,000  ;  the  average  increase  may  be 
set  down  at  3£  per  cent,  amounting  to  about 


820.  The  whole  cost  of  subsistence  and 
transportation  to  the  Colony  is  $30,  which 
would  make  the  cost  of  transporting  the 
whole  increase  of  this  population,  about 
§25,000  pet  anum.  The  situation  of  the 
Colony,  however,  renders  so  large  an  acces- 
sion to  their  population  at  present,  by  no 
means  desirable,  and  your  committee  believe 
a  well  concerted  combination  of  public  mu- 
nificence, with  private  benevolence,  united 
with  a  moderate  tax  on  this  species  of  popu- 
lation, to  be  applied  exclusive  to  the  aid  of 
such  as  are  willing  to  emigrate,  would  abun- 
dantly supply  all  the  means  that  could  now 
be  prudently  or  beneficially  used  by  the  So- 
ciety. The  adoption  of  this  plan  is  there- 
fore earnestly  recommended,  as  likely  to  con- 
tribute not  only  to  the  general,  but  really  to 
the  pecuniary  interests  of  the  Common- 
wealth. 


other  circumstance  to  which 
your  committee  will  advert,  as  connected 
with  the  policy  of  this  measure.  Any  new 
avenue  for  our  productions,  must  be  greatly 
desirable,  in  the  present  embarrassed  state 
of  our  commerce.  Many  of  these  Colonists 
going  from  the  South,  will  carry  with  them 
many  of  our  habits  and  wants.  Their  exten- 
ded means  of  gratifying  these  will  produce 
an  increased  demand  for  our  products.  Their 
trade  with  the  interior,  which  is  rapidly  ex- 
tending, promises  to  open  some  market,  par- 
ticularly for  our  tobacco.  Several  small  ship- 
ments of  this  article,  and  of  flour,  have  al- 
ready been  made  by  citizens  of  Richmond, 
for  which  profitable  returns  have  been  made. 
By  the  last  commercial  regulations  of  Great 
Britain,  the  direct  intercourse  in  our  own 

i,  from  the  United  States  to  their  Col- 
ony of  Sierra  Leone,  is  prohibited,  whilst  the 

-  of  Liberia  would  have  free  access 
there.  The  growth  of  the  Colon}'  then 
would  not  only  create  a  great  demand  for 
nail-,  iron,  lumber  and  building  materials  for 
themselves,  but  would  afford  the  means  of 
continuing  a  commerce  with  Sierra  Leone, 
which  must  otherwise  be  lost.  The  returns 
for  these  cargoes  would  be  gold  dust,  ivory, 
cam  wood,  palm  oil,  beeswax,  and  dye  stuffs, 
derived  from  the  trade  with  the  natives,  and 
at  no  distant  day  inigar,  coffee  and  tropical 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization* 


25 


fruits  in  abundance,  the  production  of  the 
Colony  itself. 

In  every  light  then  in  which  your  commit- 
tee can  view  this  subject,  they  think  it  enti 
tied  to  the  aid  of  this  Legislature.  They 
feel  a  pride  in  connecting  Virginia  with  the 
very  foundation  of  this  great  scheme  of  phi- 
lanthropy, and  see  nothing  in  its  progress  to 
alarm,  but  much  to  elevate  their  hopes,  not 
only  of  its  ultimate  success,  but  of  its  future 
benefits.  In  these  views  they  are  strength- 
ened by  the  increased  contributions  the  So- 
ciety has  received  from  a  benevolent  public, 
and  the  increased  importance  thus  given  to 
its  operations.  During  the  last  year  533  new 
colonists  have  been  sent  out ;  391  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  Society  ;  the  residue,  consisting 
of  re-captured  Africans,  transported  at  the 
expense  of  the  United  States.  Nothing 
therefore  but  increased  means,  seems  neces- 
sary, to  give  increased  usefulness  to  their 
operations,  and  your  committee  beg  leave  to 
report  the  following  resolutions  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  appro- 
priate a  small  sum  annually  in  aid  of  the 
Society  for  Colonizing  the  Free  People  of 
Colour  on  the  Coast  of  Africa. 

2.  Resolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  provide 
by  law  for  a  moderate  tax  on  the  free  people 
of  colour  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  to  be  ap- 
plied in   aid  of  such  as  are  willing  to  emi- 
grate to  Liberia,  from  this  Commonwealth. 

For  reasons  which  will  be  disclosed  in  the 
next  chapter,  nearly  three  years  elapsed  be- 
fore the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia  had 
another  meeting.  This  we  regard  as  a  for- 
tunate circumstance,  as  it  shows  the  wisdom 
and  prudence  with  which  it  was  conducted 
and  entirely  frees  it  from  the  suspicion  of 
having  been  accessary  to  the  tragical  events 
of  1831.  It  is  true  that  the  auxiliaries  at 
Alexandria,  Lynchburg,  Staunton,  Frede- 
ricksburg,  Charlottesville  and  perhaps  at 
some  other  points  were  still  in  operation. 
But  such  records  of  their  proceedings  as 
were  published,  breathe  such  a  conservative 
tone  as  to  place  their  managers  high  above 
the  imputation  of  contributing  in  any  degree 
to  the  exciting  of  a  spirit  of  discontent  and 
insubordination  among  the  colored  people. 
Among  the  admirable  addresses  which  were 
made  before  these  auxiliaries,  we  have  read 
with  much  pleasure  those  of  Messrs.  Har- 


rison, Rives,  Toler  and  Mosby  of  Lynch- 
burg— of  Messrs.  Marye  and  Blackford  at 
Fredericksburg, — of  Bishop  Meade  of  Fred- 
eric and  the  Rev.  Andrew  Broaddus  of  King 
William. 

The  fourth  anniversary  of  the  Lynchburg 
Society  was  celebrated  on  the  1st  of  August 
1829,  and  a  very  appropriate  address  made 
by  Wm.  M.  Rives,  Esq.  The  report  notices 
the  valuable  co-operation  of  this  Auxiliary 
in  the  work  of  Colonization. 

The  fifth  annual  meeting  of  the  Alexan- 
dria Society  was  held  in  St.  Paul's  church 
on  the  14th  of  April,  1831.  Addresses  were 
made  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Harrison,  Walton 
and  Cornelius,  and  by  Mr.  Woart.  The  re- 
port speaks  in  very  encouraging  terms  of  the 
progress  of  public  sentiment  and  of  the  mul- 
tiplication of  Auxiliary  Societies. 

The  sixth  annual  meeting  of  the  Augusta 
Society  was  celebrated  on  the  23d  of  May, 
1831.  The  report  speaks  in  touching  terms 
of  the  sudden  death  of  the  Hon.  Daniel  Shef- 
fey,  and  bewails  the  loss  it  has  sustained  by 
an  event  depriving  their  society  of  one  of  ity 
earliest  and  warmest  friends  and  most  effi- 
cient officers. 

The  proceedings  of  these  auxiliaries  were 
in  entire  harmony  with  the  policy  of  the 
Colonization  Society  as  declared  in  its  fun- 
damental law,  viz  :  the  removal  to  Liberia  of 
the  free  negroes,  and  of  such  other  persons 
as  masters  acting  spontaneously  might  choose 
to  emancipate.  While  some  of  the  speakers 
indulged  in  the  hope  that  in  the  distant  fu- 
ture slavery  might  be  gradually  extinguished, 
they  all  agree  in  protesting  most  vehemently 
against  any  purpose  of  interfering  in  the 
question  of  our  domestic  institutions.  As  an 
example  of  their  general  tenor  upon  this 
topic,  Charles  L.  Mosby  in  a  speech  before 
the  Lynchburg  Society  in  the  summer  of 
1831,  used  the  following  strong  language — 
"Equally  absurd  and  false  is  the  allegation 
that  this  society  seeks  to  disturb  the  rights 
of  property  and  to  interfere  with  the  well 
established  relation  between  master  and 
slave.  If  any  man  should  avow  sucli  pur- 
3oses  as  these,  and  seek  to  hide  himself  un- 
der the  authority  of  this  Society,  he  is  a 
aase  traitor  to  its  principles  and  its  worst 
enemy.  Let  him  stand  or  fall  by  the  verdict 
of  an  outraged  community,  but  do  not  make 


26 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


liable  for  his  acts  a  great  institution  whose 
real  friends  will  be  the  first  to  discounts 
nance  him,  and  to  brand  upon  his  forehead 
in  indelible  characters,  this  is  a  traitor  to  his 
country  and  the  cause  of  humanity." 

The  cause  of  African  Colonization  had  re- 
cently sustained  a  severe  loss  in  the  death 
of  two  eminent  Virginians — the  Hon.  Bush- 
rod  Washington,  President  of  the  American 
Society,  and  of  William  H.  Fitzhugh,  one  of 
its  earliest  friends  and  most  generous  patrons. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  American  Society  at 
Washington,  in  June  1830,  General  Walter 
Jones  in  a  very  impressive  speech  portrayed 
the  high  character  of  the  venerable  Judge 
Washington  and  eloquently  expressed  the 
grief  which  not  himself  only  but  the  Society 
and  the  country  felt  at  this  loss.  He  con- 
cluded by  offering  the  following  resolution, 
which  was  unanimously  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  entertains  a 
deep  sense  of  the  loss  which  it  has  sustain- 
ed by  the  decease  of  its  venerable  President 
the  Hon.  Bushrod  Washington,  and  that  it 
will  cherish  an  affectionate  remembrance  of 
his  intellectual  and  moral  worth.  The  Rev. 
R.  Randolph  Gurley  in  the  report  added : 
The  venerable  President  of  this  Society  ex- 
pired in  Philadelphia,  on  the  26th  of  Novem- 
ber. Called  unanimously  at  the  request  of 
this  institution  to  preside  over  its  delibera- 
tions, he  gave  to  it  not  merely  the  influence 
of  his  opinion  and  the  weight  of  his  name, 
but  repeatedly  by  liberal  pecuniary  contri- 
butions, evinced  his  intense  interest  in  the 
object  it  was  established  to  promote.  Not 
as  a  profound  and  sagacious  statesman  only 
did  he  contemplate  it,  but  with  the  enlarged 
views  of  a  philanthropist  and  the  expanded 
benevolence  and  pious  confidence  of  a  Chris- 
tian. In  an  address  delivered  at  the  first  an- 
nual meeting  of  this  Society,  he  said,  "Among 
all  the  magnificent  plan.s  for  the  improvement 
•and  happiness  of  'mankind,  there  is  perhaps 
none  upon  which  we  were  more  confident- 
ly implore  the  blessing  of  heaven  than  this. 
Wlicther  we  consider  the  grandeur  of  the 
object  or  the  wide  sphere  of  philanthropy  it 
embraces,  or  whether  we  view  the  present 
state  of  its  progress,  we  may  discover  in  each 
a  certain  pledge  that  the  same  benign  ant  hand 


which  has  made  these  preparatory  arrange- 
ments will  crown  our  efforts  with  success. 

The  managers  feel  it  to  be  impossible  to 
present  even  an  outline  of  the  character  of 
this  eminent  man — occupying  for  more  than 
30  years  a  seat  in  the  highest  judicial  tribu- 
nal of  the  country.  Exhibiting  on  all  occa- 
sions the  attributes  of  a  sound,  comprehen- 
sive and  learned  mind:  fulfilling  his  arduous 
duties  with  regal  integrity  and  cloudless  hon- 
or ;  no  words  of  ours  can  increase  the  pub- 
lic regret  for  his  loss  nor  add  to  the  bright- 
ness of  his  fame. 

In  Jan.  1831,  Mr.  G.  W.  P.  Custis  said 
upon  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  Wm.  H. 
Fitzhugh — "  Sir,  our  lot  has  fallen  on  calam- 
itous times.  Scarcely  had  we  doffed  our 
mourning  garments  for  our  venerable  Presi- 
dent, who  so  long  and  so  worthily  filled  our 
chair,  and  who  bore  his  illustrious  name  with 
many  of  the  high  dignities  and  all  the  mild 
charities,  pure  and  time  honored  to  the  grave, 
than  we  must  again  put  on  the  insignia  of 
sorrow,  for  lo  ihe  '  Insatiate  Archer'  has  sped 
another  shaft  ami  another  of  our  chiefs  is 
hurried  to  an  untimely  tomb.  He  was  one 
of  the  earliest  and  most  faithful  laborers  in 
our  vineyard.  He  spared  neither  time  nor 
talents  in  the  service  of  our  cause,  and  by 
his  last  vrill  and  testament  left  an  imperisha- 
ble monument  of  his  friendship  and  sympa- 
thy for  the  whole  African  race.  Yes,  sir,  and 
when  in  future  times  powerful  Liberia  in  the 
pride  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  freedom  and 
happiness,  shall  erect  in  her  capitol  tokens 
of  gratitude  in  memory  of  her  early  benefac- 
tors, the  name  of  Fitzhugh  will  be  graven 
thereon  in  characters  of  puro  and  high  re- 
lief. 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  rise  of  Northern  Abolitionism — Coloni- 
zation and  Abolition  antagonistic — Sus- 
pension of  proceedings  of  Colonization  So- 
ciety of  Virginia  from  December.  1828,  to 
Jane  1831 — Southampton  Tt  agcdy  traced  lo 
its  true  cause — Gor.  Ci/e.i — the  .Mayor  of 
Boston,  Arc. 

The  Colonization  Society  had  been  grad- 
ually winning  its  way  to  the  confidence  of 
Virginians  as  a  wise  measure  of  State  poli- 
cy, and  a  deserving  object  of  Christian 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


charity.  It  could  point  with  pride  to  the 
names  of  Washington,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  Tyler,  and  many  other  names  of 
the  highest  authority.  It  had  been  stamped 
several  times  with  the  broad  seal  of  the 
Commonwealth  in  the  form  of  divers  acts  of 
the  General  Assembly.  It  was  cheered  by 
the  unanimous  voice  of  Christians  of  all 
creeds,  and  had  a  fair  prospect  of  becoming 
the  settled  policy  of  the  State.  But  this  fair 
prospect  was  soon  overcast  with  a  cloud 
charged  with  angry  lightnings — this  har- 
mony marred  by  the  voice  of  discord. 

The  demon  of  abolition  now  appeared  in 
American  history  in  the  forms  and  under  the 
names  of  the  "Liberator,"  the  tc African 
Sentinel,"  and  the  "Genius  of  Universal 
Emancipation." 

No  two  things  were  more  opposed  than 
the  Genius  of  Colonization  and  the  Genius 
of  Abolition.  The  former  is  Concord  with  her 
horn  of  plenty,  the  latter  Discord,  Daughter  of 
Night  and  Sister  of  Revenge  and  Death.  The 
one  is  the  olive-branch — the  other  is  the 
hoarse  the  gentle  Dove  returning  to  the  ark 
with  raven  exulting  in  the  Deluge.  The  former 
is  Peace — the  latter  is  Bellona  with  her  of- 
ferings of  blood.  The  one  is  the  gentle  zephyr 
wafting  its  treasures  to  the  haven  where 
they  would  be — the  other  is  the  hurricane 
lashing  the  ocean  into  foam  and  covering 
its  surface  with  wrecks,  and  its  caverns 
with  the  bones  of  the  dead. — Madison  and 
Marshall  were  the  types  of  the  one — Gar- 
rison and  Walker  the  representatives  of  the 
other. 

These  monomaniacs  forgetting  that  all  the 
great  movements  of  Providence  like  those  of 
Nature  were  slow,  became  impatient  of  the 
gradual  breaking  of  the  day  and  would  so 
quicken  the  wheels  of  time  as  to  precipitate 
noon  upon  midnight.  Accordingly  they  be- 
gan to  forge  and  throw  into  the  peaceful  bo- 
som of  Southern  society  firebrands  with  the 
view  of  lighting  up  the  flame  of  insurrec- 
tion. The  venerable  Dr.  Alexander  of 
Princeton,  New  Jersey,  in  his  history  of  Af- 
rican Colonization,  says :  "About  this  time 
the  zeal  of  the  Abolitionists  had  become  ex- 
ceedingly warm,  and  great  excitement  was 
produced  both  at  the  North  and  the  South 
by  the  publication  of  inflammatory  pamphlets 
containing  highly  colored  descriptions  of  the 


cruelties  exercised  towards  the  slaves  in  the 
Southern  States ;  and  caricatures  were  pre- 
pared calculated  to  make  a  strong  impression 
on  the  imagination  of  the  people.  A  pam- 
phlet was  printed  in  Boston,  written  by  one 
Mr.  Walker,  which  actually  aimed  to  excite 
the  slaves  to  insurrection,  and  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  exhort  them  to  take  vengeance  on 
their  owners  by  imbruing  their  hands  in 
their  blood.  Copies  of  these  pamphlets  were 
sent  by  mail  into  the  Southern  country." 

Many  of  these  incendiary  pamphlets  an- 
swering the  above  description  were  collected 
and  deposited  in  the  State  Library  of  Rich- 
mond. The  Secretary  of  State  has  kindly 
given  us  access  to  them,  and  we  have  re- 
cently looked  through  them  all.  There  are 
among  them  many  numbers  of  the  Liberator, 
the  Genius  of  Universal  Emancipation,  sev- 
eral caricatures  in  the  form  of  handkerchiefs, 
a  variety  of  anti-slavery  tracts  and  cate- 
chisms teaching  the  most  atrocious  doctrines. 
Our  attention  was  specially  arrested  by  a 
pamphlet  entitled  "  An  appeal  to  the  colored 
citizens  of  the  world  and  particularly  of  the 
United  States  of  America,"  written  in  1820, 
and  re-prmted  in  Boston  in  1829.  This 
pamphlet  fell  into  the  hands  of  Chief  Jus- 
tice Marshall,  President  of  the  Colonization 
Society  of  Virginia,  and  was  given  by  him 
to  the  governor  of  this  State. 

We  extract  from  it  the  following  precious 
gems  :  "  Some  of  you  whites  will  yet  curse 
the  day  in  which  you  live.  My  color  will 
yet  root  some  of  you  from  the  face  of  the 
earth.  You  may  doubt — so  did  the  Sodom- 
ites until  God  rained  fire  down  upon  them." 
The  fruits  of  these  incendiary  machinations 
soon  began  to  appear. 

In  December  1829,  Gov.  Giles  in  his  mes- 
sage to  the  General  Assembly,  says :  "  that 
during  the  past  summer  a  spirit  of  dissatis- 
faction and  insubordination  was  manifested 
by  some  of  the  slaves  in  different  parts  of 
the  country  from  this  place  to  the  Seaboard, 
and  considerable  excitement  was  produced 
in  a  few  neighborhoods. 

The  Richmond  Enquirer  of  the  28th  of 
January  1830,  said  about  "  three  weeks  ago 
the  House  of  Delegates  went  into  closed 
doors  in  consequence  of  a  message  from  the 
governor  communicating  a  pamphlet  printed 
in  Boston,  and  addressed  to  people  of  color. 


28 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


We  should  have  taken  no  farther  notice  of 
this  matter  if  we  had  not  reason  to  believe 
that  a  systematic  design  has  been  formed  for 
circulating  these  pamphlets  exclusively 
among  the  colored  people." 

The  copy  in  question  was  found  in  the 
house  of  a  free  man  of  color  after  his  death 
by  the  Mayor.  We  learn  from  the  Savan- 
nah papers  that  about  fifty  copies  had  been 
sent  to  that  place  for  distribution,  and  that 
they  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  mayor, 
who  sent  them  to  the  governor,  and  he  to  the 
Legislature,  who  had  passed  a  very  strin- 
gent bill  upon  the  subject,  making  the  circu- 
lating incendiary  pamphlets  a  capital  offence. 

The  Savannah  papers  give  some  extracts 
from  this  pamphlet,  displaying  the  ferocious 
spent  of  the  author.  They  call  upon  these 
poor  ignorant  creatures  to  wash  their  hands 
in  the  blood  of  the  whites.  And  so  very 
obnoxious  is  the  whole  pamphlet  that  the 
Boston  Sentinel  reprobates  it  in  the  severest 
manner  and  justifies  the  law  of  Georgia. 

On  the  first  of  February,  1830,  Governor 
Giles  communicated  to  the  Legislature  of 
Virginia  a  letter  from  Harrison  Gray  Otis, 
Mayor  of  Boston. 

On  the  1st  February  1830,  the  Speaker  of 
the  House  of  Delegates  presented  the  fol- 
lowing communication  from  the  Governor  of 
Virginia : 
To  the  Honorable  LINN  BANKS, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Delegates. 

In  compliance  with  the  advice  of  the  Ex- 
ecutive Council,  I  do  myself  the  honor  of 
transmitting  herewith  a  copy  of  a  letter  from 
the  Hon.  Gray  Otis,  Mayor  of  Boston,  cov- 
ering a  copy  of  a  letter  addressed  by  him  to 
the  Mayor  of  Savannah  in  answer  to  one 
received  by  him  from  that  gentleman,  re- 
specting a  seditious  pamphlet  written  by  a 
person  of  color  in  Boston ;  and  circulated 
by  him  in  other  parts  of  the  United  States. 
Yours,  respectfully, 

WM.  B.  GILES. 

To  the  Governor  of  Virginia. 

SIR  :  Perceiving  that  a  pamphlet  publish- 
ed in  this  city  has  been  a  subject  of  animad- 
version and  uneasiness  in  Virginia  as  well  as 
in  Georgia,  I  have  presumed  that  it  might 
not  be  amiss  to  apprise  you  of  the  sentiments 
and  feelings  of  thr-  city  authorities  in  this 


place,  and  for  this  reason  I  beg  leave  to  send 
you  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  the  Mayor  of  Sa- 
vannah in  answer  to  one  from  him.  You 
may  be  assured  that  your  good  people  can- 
not hold  in  more  absolute  detestation  the 
sentiments  of  the  writer  than  do  the  people 
of  this  city,  and  as  I  verily  believe  the  mass 
of  the  New  England  population.  The  only 
difference  is  that  the  insignificance  of  the 
writer,  the  extravagance  of  his  sanguinary 
fanaticism  tending  to  disgust  all  persons  oi 
common  humanity  with  his  object,  and  the 
very  partial  circulation  of  his  book  prevent 
the  affair  from  being  the  subject  of  excite- 
ment, and  hardly  of  serious  attention.  I 
have  reason  to  believe  that  the  book  is  dis- 
approved of  by  the  decent  portion  of  the 
colored  people,  and  it  would  be  a  cause  of 
deep  regret  to  all  my  well  disposed  fellow- 
citizens  if  a  publication  of  this  character 
and  emanating  from  such  a  source  should  be 
thought  to  be  countenanced  by  any  of  their 
number. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Your  obd't  serv't, 

H.  G.  OTIS, 

Mayor  of  the  city  of  Boston. 
BOSTON,  Feb.  10,  1830. 

To  the  Mayor  of  Savannah. 

SIR  :  Indisposition  has  prevented  an  ear- 
lier reply  to  your  favor  of  the  12th  of  De- 
cember. A  few  days  before  the  receipt  of 
it,  the  pamphlet  had  been  put  into  my  hands 
by  one  of  the  aldermen  of  this  city — it  not 
having  been  circulated  here.  I  perused  it 
carefully  in  order  to  ascertain  whether  the 
writer  had  made  himself  amenable  to  our 
laws,  but  notwithstanding  the  extremely  bad 
and  inflammatory  tendency  of  the  publica- 
tion, he  does  not  seem  to  have  violated  any 
of  our  laws.  It  is  written  by  a  free  black 
man  whose  names  it  bears.  He  is  a  shop- 
keeper and  a  dealer  in  old  clothes,  and  in  a 
conversation  which  I  authorized  a  young 
man  to  hold  with  him  he  openly  avowed  the 
sentiments  of  the  book  and  authorship.  I 
also  hear  that  he  declares  his  intention  to 
circulate  these  pamphlets  by  mail,  at  his  own 
expense  if  he  cannot  otherwise  effect  his 
object.  You  may  be  assured,  sir,  that  a  dis- 
position would  not  be  wanting  on  the  part  of 
the  city  authorities  here  lo  avail  themselves 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


of  any  lawful  means  for  preventing  this  at- 
tempt to  throw  firebrands  into  your  country. 
We  regard  it  with  deep  disapprobation  and 
abhorrence.  But  we  have  no  power  to  con- 
trol the  purpose  of  the  author,and  withoutthat 
we  think  that  any  public  notice  of  him  and 
his  book  would  make  matters  worse.  We 
have  been  determined,  however,  to  publish 
a  general  warning  to  Captains  of  vessels 
against  exposing  themselves  to  the  conse- 
quences of  transporting  incendiary  writings 
into  yours  and  the  other  Southern  States. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be 

Your  obedient  servant, 

H.  G.  OTIS. 

The  communication  was  laid  upon  the  ta- 
ble. 

In  this  connection  we  may  cite  a  paragraph 
from  an  article  by  the  Rev.  R.  Randolph 
Gurley  having  a  direct  bearing  upon  the 
point  which  we  have  adduced  the  foregoing 
documents  to  prove.  In  April  1831,  Mr. 
Gurley  as  Secretary  of  the  American  Colo- 
nization Society,  said,  "  there  will  be  found 
in  our  list  of  donations,  one  hundred  dollars 
from  James  Madison.  This  great  and  hon- 
ored man  approves  and  sanctions  the  object 
of  our  institution.  Will  the  enemies  of  our 
Society  in  South  Carolina,  and  will  the  rash 
and  deluded  youth  who  is  scattering  firebrands 
from  Boston  which  may  do  mischief  beyond 
his  comprehension,  deem  as  nothing  the 
opinion  of  such  men  as  Madison  and  Mar- 
shall, illustrious  alike  for  their  wisdom  and 
virtues. 

In  June  1831,  Wm  L.  Garrison  delivered 
an  address  to  the  colored  people  in  Philadel- 
phia, New  York  and  other  cities.  We  have 
now  before  us  a  copy  of  the  second  edition, 
dated  in  June.  In  the  preface  to  this  print- 
ed address,  he  says  :  "I  am  determined  to 
give  slaveholders  as  much  uneasiness  as  pos- 
sible. They  shall  hear  me,  and  of  me,  and 
from  me  in  a  tone  and  with  a  frequency 
which  shall  make  them  tremble.  He  recom- 
mends the  observation  of  the  ensuing  4th 
of  July  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
to  the  coloured  people  of  the  United  States. 
He  denounces  the  Colonization  Society,  and 
calls  on  them  to  resolve  on  death  rather  than 
transportation.  The  colored  people  of  the 
South,  he  says,  are  entitled  to  every  inch  of 


Southern  territory,  having  worn  themselves 
out  in  its  cultivation. 

In  the  Liberator  for  July  1831,  the  editor 
printed  a  song  supposed  to  be  sung  by  slaves 
in  insurrection.  The  editor  in  calling  atten- 
tion to  it,  asks:  "Will  Southern  Nullifiers 
do  us  the  favor  to  read  it  to  their  slaves  ! — 
We  shall  see." 

This  song  begins — 

See  tyrants,  see  your  empire  shakes, 
Your  flaming  roofs  the  wild  winds  fan, 
Stung  to  the  soul  the  negro  wakea.  &c. 

The  last  lines  are  : 

Up  Africa,  the  land  is  free, 
Our  battle  cry  is  Liberty, 
Oh,  strike  for  God  and  vengeance  now, 
Fly  tyrants  fly, 
Or  stay  to  die. 

These  papers  and  others,  specimens  of 
which  are  now  deposited  in  the  Library  of 
Virginia, were  circulated  throughout  the  State 
by  mail  and  also  by  emissaries  in  person,  as 
shown  by  documents  now  on  file  in  the  Ex- 
ecutive Department. 

In  the  following  month  of  August,  the  in- 
surrection occurred  in  Southampton,  Virgi- 
nia, by  which  sixty  persons,  chiefly  helpless 
women  and  children,  were  butchered  by 
night,  by  a  company  of  negroes  whose  brains 
were  fired  by  the  ardent  spirits  of  Alcohol 
and  Abolition.  In  announcing  the  news  of 
this  insurrection  in  the  Liberator  of  the  3rd 
of  September,  1831,  the  editor  has  a  flaming 
article  which  seems  to  us  almost  a  confession 
of  the  participation  of  Northern  Abolitionists 
in  this  foul  tragedy. 

If  we  could  spare  the  space  we  would  re- 
produce the  whole  article  as  one  of  the  most 
cold-blooded  and  heartless  declamations  that 
was  ever  made  by  a  human  being  under 
such  circumstances.  He  quotes  some  verses 
from  the  Janu'ry  number  of  the  Liberator  and 
adds  :  "  What  we  have  so  long  predicted  at 
the  price  of  being  stigmatised  as  an  Alarm- 
ist and  Declaimer  has  begun  its  fulfillment* 

The  first  step  of  the  earthquake  which  is 
to  shake  down  the  fabric  of  oppression  has 
been  made — the  first  drops  of  blood  which 
are  a  prelude  to  the  deluge  from  the  gather- 
ing clouds  have  fallen.  In  our  number  for 
January  we  alluded  to  the  how  of  vengeance, 
Read  the  accounts  of  the  insurrection  and 


30 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


say  if  our  prophecy  is  fulfilled.     What  was 
imagination  in  January  is  now  bloody  reality. 

Again  he  says,  they  (the  insurgents)  de- 
served no  more  censure  than  the  Greeks  in 
breaking  the  Turkish  yoke  or  the  Americans 
in  shedding  British  blood. 

Such  are  some  of  the  links  (still  remaining 
in  Virginia)  of  that  chain  of  evidence  which 
connects  the  Immediatists  of  the  North  as 
they  were  pleased  to  call  themselves  with 
the  Southampton  insurrection.  Out  of  their 
mouths  we  condemn  them.  If  so  plausible 
a  case  is  made  out  at  this  distance  of  time 
from  such  of  these  incendiary  publications 
as  happened  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Governor  of  Virginia,  and  to  be  preserved 
by  him — it  raises  a  strong  presumption  that 
if  all  the  fact  were  known  the  proof  would 
be  complete. 

Now  mark  the  contrast  presented  by  the 
Colonization  Society  of  Virginia.  While 
these  troubles  were  brewing,  she  had  but  one 
meeting,  and  assigns  as  a  reason  for  the  .sus- 
pension of  proceedings,  that  the  "  public 
mind  had  been  absorbed  by  discussions 
growing. out  of  the  formation  of  a  new  State 
government,  and  to  the  rekindling  of  preju- 
dices in  reference  to  the  design  of  the  So- 
ciety which  therefore  preferred  to  await  a 
period  of  repose  when  reason  should  silent- 
ly assert  its  empire  and  prejudices  yield  to 
the  course  of  events  and  the  convictions  of 
experience.'' 


NOTE. — It  wits  proven  ut  the  trial  of  the  Southampton 
insurgents  that  certain  free  negro  preachers  had  been  on 
mission  through  North  Carolina,  and  lower  Virginia,  and 
that  one  of  them  was  at  Jerusalem  the  night  before  the 
insurrection.  There  are  several  letters  on  the  Record, 
and  particularly  one  from  Judge  Scmplc  to  this  effect. 
There  arc  also  on  file  in  the  olVice  letters  from  Phila- 
delphia and  other  cities  to  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  xvarn 
ing  him  of  the  machinations  of  Abolitionists  to  cre.ite 
discontent  and  rebellion  among  our  servant*.  There  are 
letters  too  from  postmasters  and  other  persons  in  Virgi- 
nia transmitting  to  the  Executive  incendiary  pamphlets 
taken  from  MCSTOPH  and  intercepted  letters,  nil  .if  the 
same  tone. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Gov.  Floyd's  Message  to  the  Legislature  about 
the  Southampton  Insurrection.  Debate  on 
•Abolition  and  on  removal  of  free  negroes. 
Jlcta  passed  by  House  of  Delegates  and  re- 
jected by  Senate,  Sfc. 

Resolved,  That  this  society  deems  it  expe- 
dient at  this  time  to  renew  its  pledges  to  the 
public  strictly  to  adhere  to  that  original  fea- 
ture in  the  Constitution,  which  confines  its 
operations  to  the  removal  of  the  free  people  of 
color  only,  with  their  own  consent. — \Resolu- 
tion  of  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia.  Jan. 
l\th,  1832. 

"  The  seals  are  broken  which  have  been 
put  for  fifty  years  upon  the  most  delicate  and 
difficult  subject  of  State  concernment.  We 
publish  speeches  in  the  House  of  Delegate? 
to-day  which  at  no  other  period  could  have 
been  delivered  but  with  closed  doors.  In  the 
same  spirit,  the  press  fearlessly  speaks.  Let 
Legislators,  Politicians  and  Editors  speak 
with  forbearance  towards  each  other,  and 
with  the  utmost  discretion  in  the  presence  of 
persons  whose  destinies  are  dependent  upon 
the  discussion.  ' 

Such  was  tin*  spirited  language,  of  the  ven 
erable  Editor  of  the  Richmond  Enquirer,  on 
the  19th  of  January,  1832,  pending  the  Abo- 
lition debate  in  the  House  of  Delegates.  We 
are  indebted  to  the  columns  of  the  same  pa- 
per for  the  following  synopsis  of  the  debate. 
We  trust  that  no  person  will  suspect  us  of 
reviving  the  memory  of  this  debate  for  any 
purpose  but  the  illustration  of  our  subject. 
Its  relations  to  our  history  will  be  clearly  de- 
fined in  a  subsequent  chapter,  fn  the  mean 
time  it  is  but  just  to  all  parlies  lo  say  that  in 
our  opinion  no  man  of  that  day  should  be 
judged  by  the  lights  of  the  present  genera- 
tion. That  was  the  Hood-tide  of  anti-slavery 
feeling  in  Virginia,  and  the  tide  has  been  eb- 
bing ever  since.  We  do  not  make  this  re- 
mark lo  shield  the  Colonization  Society.  It 
needs  no  defence.  In  the  very  heat  of  this 
debate,  the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia 
met  in  the  Capitol  and  solemnly  renewed  ils 
pledge  to  adhere  to  its  first  principle  of  lim- 
iting its  operations  exclusively  to  the  coloni- 
zing with  their  own  consent  the  free  colored 
people  only,  and  although  it  had  warm  friends 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


31 


on  both  sides  of  the  question  debated,  yet  it 
is  a  significant  fact  that  the  most  prominent 
Colonizationists  in  the  House,  as  Brodnax, 
Gholson,  Marshall,  Brown  and  others,  were 
the  leaders  on  the  Jlnti- Emancipation  side. 

Extract  from   Gov'r  Floyd's  Message,  Dec'r 
6,  1855. 

Whilst  wo  are  enjoying  the  abundance  of 
the  last  season,  reposing  in  the  peace  and 
quiet  of  domestic  comfort  and  safety,  we 
were  suddenly  aroused  from  that  security,  by 
feceiving  information  that  a  portion  of  our 
fellow-citizens  had  fallen  victims  to  the  re- 
lentless fury  of  assassins  and  murderers,  even 
whilst  wrapped  in  profound  sleep,  and  that 
those  bloody  deeds  had  been  perpetrated  in 
a  spirit  of  wantonness  and  cruelty  unknown 
to  savage  warfare  even  in  these  most  revolt- 
ing times. 

In  August  last,  a  banditti  of  slaves,  con- 
sisting of  but  few  at  first,  and   not  at  any 
time  exceeding  a  greater  number  than  sev- 
enty, rose  upon  some  of  the   unsuspecting 
and  defenseless  inhabitants  of  Southampton, 
and  under  circumstances  of  the  most  shock- 
ing and  horrid  barbarity,  put  to  death  sixty- 
one  persons,  of  whom  the   greater  number 
were  women  and   helpless  children.     Much 
of  lhat  bloody  work  was  done  on   Monday 
morning ;  and   on  the   day  following,  abou 
10  o'clock,  the  last  murder  was  committed 
The  citizens  of  that  and  the  adjacent  coun- 
ties promptly  assembled,  and  all  real  dange 
was  speedily  terminated. 

The  conspiracy  was  at  first  believed  to  be 
general;  wherefore  I  was  induced  to  cal 
into  service  a  force  sufficient  to  crush  at  a 
single  blow  all  oppressing  power,  whateve 
might  be  its  strength.  To  this  end  detach 
ments  of  light  infantry  from  the  7th  and  54tl 
Regiments,  and  from  the  4th  Regiment  o 
Cavalry  and  4th  Light  Artillery,  under  Brig 
adier  General  Eppes,  who  had  been  desire 
to  assume  command,  and  call  out  his  Brig 
adc.  Arms  and  ammunition  were  ampl 
furnished  and  thrown  into  all  tlie  countie.' 
which  were  suspected  of  disaffection. — 
Two  regiments  in  Brunswick  and  Greens 
ville  were  called  into  service  by  their  con: 
manding  officers,  and  under  the  law  vestin 


lem  with  the  power  to  do  so,  for  such  pur- 
oses. 

These  troops  being  within  the  Brigade 
ommanded  by  Brigadier  General  Wm.  H. 
Jrodnax,  that  officer  assumed  the  command 
nd  remained  in  the  field  until  all  danger 
ad  passed. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  communicate 

o  the  General  Assembly,  the   high  satisfac- 

ion  I  feel  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  zeal, 

romptitude  and   dispatch  with  whi«h  every 

fficer  discharged  his  duty,  and  the  cheerful 

alacrity  with  which  every  officer  obeyed  the 

call  of  the  law. 

Though  the  call  upon  the  light  troops  was 
o  promptly  obeyed,  yet  before  their  arrival 
he  revolt  was  subdued,  and  many  of  these 
deluded  fanatics  were  either  captured  or 
>laced  beyond  the  possibility  of  escape ; 
some  had  already  been  immolated  by  an  ex- 
cited people. 

I  feel  the  highest  gratification  in  adding, 
that  the  readiest  aid  was  afforded  by  Commo. 
Elliott  of  the  United  States  Navy,  and  a  de- 
tachment of  sailors  from  the  ship  Natchez, 
under  his  command,  who,  though,  notwith- 
standing they  had  just  returned  from  a  long 
and  distant  cruise,  repaired  to  the  scene  of 
action  with  a  highly  creditable  alacrity. — 
Much  is  also  due  to  Col.  House,  the  com- 
manding officer  at  Fortress  Monroe,  for  the 
promptitude  with  which  he  dispatched  a 
portion  of  his  force  to  our  aid,  under  the 
command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Worth,  to  whom 
similar  praise  is  due,  as  likewise  to  the  offi- 
cers and  soldiers  under  his  command,  for  the 
promptitude  with  which  they  also  repaired 
to  our  aid,  so  soon  as  it  came  to  their  knowl- 
edge. All  necessity  for  their  co-operation 
had  ceased  before  they  reached  their  point 
of  destination  ;  but  they  are  not  the  less  en- 
titled to  commendation  on  that  account. 

All  of  those  who  participated  in  the  bloody 
tragedy  have  expiated  their  crimes  by  under- 
going public  execution,  whilst  some,  who 
had  been  condemned,  have  been  reprieved 
for  reasons  which  were  deemed  satisfactory. 
There  is  much  reason  to  believe  that  the 
spirit  of  insurrection  was  not  confined  to 
the  county  of  Southampton,  many  convic- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


lions  have  taken  place  elsewhere,  and  some 
few  in  distant  counties. 

From  the  documents  which  I  herewith  lay 
before  you,  there  is  too  much  reason  to  be- 
lieve these  plans  of  treason,  insurrection  and 
murder  have  been  designed,  planned  and 
matured  by  unrestrained  fanatics  in  some  of 
the  neighboring  States,  who  find  facilities  in 
distributing  their  views  and  plans  amongst 
our  population,  either  through  the  post  office 
or  by  agents  sent  lor  that  purpose  through 
our  Territory. 

Upon  inspecting  these  documents,  and 
contemplating  that  state  of  things  which 
they  are  intended  to  produce,  I  felt  it  my 
duty  to  open  a  correspondence  with  the  Gov- 
ernors of  some  of  the  neighbouring  powers 
of  this  Confederacy,  to  preserve,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  good  understanding  which  ex- 
ists, and  which  ought  to  be  cherished  be- 
tween the  different  members  of  this  Union. 
The  result  of  this  correspondence  will  be 
made  known  to  you  as  soon  as  it  is  ascer- 
tained. 

The  most  active  among  ourselves,  in  stir- 
ring up  the  spirit  of  revolt,  have  been  the 
negro  preachers.  They  had  acquired  great 
ascendancy  over  the  minds  of  these  fellows, 
and  infused  all  their  opinions,  which  had 
prepared  them  for  the  development  of  the 
final  design  ;  there  is  also  some  reason  to 
believe  those  preachers  have  a  perfect  un- 
derstanding in  relation  to  these  plans 
throughout  the  eastern  counties,  and  have 
been  the  channels  through  which  the  inflam- 
matory papers  and  pamphlets;  brougl.t  here 
by  the  agents  and  emissaries  from  other 
States,  have  been  circulated  amongst  our 
slaves.  The  facilities  thus  afforded  for  plot- 
ting treason  and  conspiracy  to  rebel  and 
make  insurrection,  have  been  great.  Through 
the  indulgence  of  the  magistracy  and  the 
laws,  large  collections  of  slaves  have  been 
permitted  to  take  place  at  any  time  through 
the  week  for  the  ostensible  purpose  of  in- 
dulging in  religious  worship,  but  in  many  in- 
stances the  real  purpose  with  the  preacher 
was  of  a  different  character.  The  sentiments 
and  sometimes  the  words  of  these  inflam- 
matory pamphlets,  which  the  meek  and  char- 
itable of  other  States  have  seen  cause  to  dis- 


tribute as  firebrands  in  the  bosom  of  our  so- 
ciety, have  been  used.  What  shall  be  thought 
of  those  fiends,  \vho,  having  interest  in  our 
community,  nevertheless,  seek  to  excite  a 
servile  war;  a  war  which  exhausts  itself  in 
the  massacre  of  unoffending  women  and 
children  on'the  one  side,  and  on  the  other, 
of  the  sacrifice  of  all  who  had  borne  part  in 
the  savage  undertaking.  Not  only  should 
the  severest  punishment  be  inflicted  upon 
those  disturbers  of  our  peace  whenever  they 
or  their  emissaries  are  found  in  our  reach — 
but  decisive  measures  should  be  adopted  to 
make  all  these  measures  abortive.  The  pub- 
lic requires  the  negro  preachers  to  be  si- 
lenced, who,  full  of  grievance,  are  incapable 
of  inculcating  any  thing  but  notions  of  the 
vilest  superstition,  thus  preparing  fit  instru- 
ments in  the  hands  of  the  crafty  agitators  to 
destroy  the  public  tranquility. 

As  the  means  of  guarding  against  the  pos- 
sible repetition  of  these  sanguinary  scenes,  I 
cannot  fail  to  recommend  to  your  early  at- 
tention the  revision  of  all  the  laws  intended 
to  preserve,  in  due  subordination,  the  slave 
population  of  our  State.  In  urging  these 
considerations  upon  you,  let  me  not  be  un- 
derstood, as  expressing  the  slightest  doubt 
or  apprehension  of  general  results.  All 
communities  arc  liable  to  suffer  from  the 
dagger  of  the  murderer  and  midnight  assas- 
sin, and  it  behooves  them  to  guard  against 
them.  With  us  the  first  returning  light  dis- 
pels the  danger,  and  soon  witnesses  the 
murderer  in  chain:-. 

Though  means  have  been  taken  by  (hose 
of  other  States  to  agitate  our  community  and 
discontent  our  slaves,  and  incite  them  to  at- 
tempt an  unattainable  object,  some  proof  is 
also  furnished,  that  for  the  class  of  fre'e  peo- 
ple of  colour,  they  have  opened  more  en- 
larged views,  and  urge  the  achievement  of  a 
higher  destiny,  by  means  for  the  present  les>s 
violent,  but  not  differing  from  those  present- 
ed to  the  slaves.  That  class  of  our  commu- 
nity, the  laws  have  heretofore  treated  with 
indulgent  kindness,  and  many  instances  of 
solicitude  for  their  welfare  have  marked  the 
progress  of  legislation.  If  the  slave  is  con- 
fined by  law  to  the  estate  of  his  master,  as 
it  is  advisable  he  should  be,  the  free  people 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


33 


of  colour  may  nevertheless  convey  all  the 
incendiary  pamphlets  and  papers  with  which 
we  are  sought  to  be  inundated.  This  class, 
too,  has  been  the  first  to  place  itself  in  hos- 
tile array  against  every  measure  designed  to 
remove  them  from  amongst  us.  Though  it 
will  be  indispensably  necessary  for  them  to 
withdraw  from  this  community — yet,  in  the 
spirit  of  kindness  which  has  ever  character- 
ized the  Legislature  of  Virginia — it  is  sub- 
mitted whether,  as  (he  last  benefit  we  can 
confer  upon  them,  it  may  not  be  wise  to  ap- 
propriate annually  H  MUD  of  money,  to  aid 
in  their  removal  from  this  Commonwealth. 
Whilst  recent  events  had  created  appre- 
hensions in  the  minds  of  a  few,  some  agita- 
tion was  also  more  extensively  felt,  therefore 
it  was  deemed  prudent  to  arm  the  militia  in 
a  manner  calculated  to  quiet  all  apprehen- 
sions, and  arms  were  accordingly  furnished 
to  nearly  all  the  regiments  on  the  eastern 
frontier.  The  want  of  them  upon  this  sud- 
den emergency  was  so  sensibly  felt  by  those 
in  the  vicinity  of  Norfolk,  as  to  induce  Com- 
modore Warrington,  in  command  of  the  Na- 
vy Yard  at  Gosport,  to  distribute  a  portion  of 
the  public  arms  under  his  care,  that  gallant 
and  patriotic  officer  did  not  hesitate  to  as- 
sume the  responsibility  of  this  step,  and  it  is 
gratifying  to  perceive  that  hie  conduct  has 
met  the  approbation  of  the  public  function- 
aries. The  policy  of  disarming  the  militia, 
it  is  believed,  was  pursued  as  a  measure  of 
economy,  as  the  men  and  officers  had  been 
culpably  negligent  in  their  attention  to  their 
preservation,  so  that  many  were  lost  or  by 
neglect  became  unfit  for  service.  Now,  how- 
ever, the  necessity  for  preserving  them  has 
been  distinctly  felt,  and  a  doubt  cannot  be 
entertained  that  more  care  will  be  taken  of 
them  inthc  future,  we  could  not  weigh  the  ex- 
pense incurred  by  this  measure,  against  the 
possible  sacrifice  of  life,  much  less  the  pos-j 
sible  repetition  of  the  sceno.s  of  Southamp-| 
ton. 

HOUSE  OF  DELEGATES,    / 
Dec'r  6,   1831.      $ 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Fisher,  (the  same  being 
modified  on  motion  of  Mr.  Brodnax,)  order-! 
ed  that  so  much  of  the  Governor's  Message 
as  relates  to  the  insurrectionary  movements 


of  the  slaves  and  the  removal  of  the  free  per- 
sons of  colour  beyond  the  limits  of  this  com- 
monwealth, be  referred  to  a  committee  of 
Messrs.  Broadnax,  Fisher.  Cob,  Wood  of  Al- 
bemarle,  Roane,  Moore,  Newton,  Campbell 
of  Brooke,  Smith  of  Frederick,  Gholson, 
Brown,  Stillman,  and  Anderson  of  Notto- 
way,  with  leave  to  report  by  bill  or  other- 
wise. 

Mr.  Fisher  presented  a  petitition  of  the 
citizens  of  Northampton,  relative  to  the  same 
subject,  which  was  ordered  to  be  referred  to 
the  Fame  committee. 

ABOLITION  OF  SLAVERY. 

Mr.  Goode  submitted,  according  to  notice 
given  yesterday,  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  select  committee  raised 
on  the  subject  of  slaves,  free  negroes,  and 
the  melancholy  occurrences  growing  out  of 
the  tragical  massacre  in  South  Hampton,  be 
discharged  from  the  consideration  of  all  pe- 
titions, memorials  and  resolutions,  which 
have  for  their  object  the  manumission  of  per- 
sons held  in  servitude  under  the  existing 
aws  of  this  commonwealth,  and  that  it  is  noi 
expedient  to  legislate  on  this  subject. 

Mr.  Randolph  moved  to  amend  the  re.sojn- 
jion  by  striking  out  all  after  the  word  Sovt/t 
Hampton,  and  inserting  in  lieu  thereof,  the 
following: 

be  instructed  to  inquire  into  the  ex- 
pediency of  submitting  to  the  vote  of  the 
qualified  voters  in  the  several  cities,  towns, 
boroughs  and  counties  of  this  commonwealth, 
the  propriety  of  providing  by  law,  that  the 
children  of  all  female  slaves,  who  may  be 
born  in  this  State,  on  or  after  the  4th  of  July, 
1840,  shall  become  the  property  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, the  males  at  the  age  of  21  yeai>, 
the  females  at  the  age  of  18,  if  detained  by 
their  owners  within  the  limits  of  Virginia, 
until  they  shall  respectively  arrive  at  the  ages 
aforesaid,  to  be  hired  out  until  the  net  sum 
arising  therefrom,  shall  be  sufficient  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  their  removal  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  United  States,  and  that  said 
committee  have  h-.avo  to  report  by  bill  or 
otherwise. 

Mr.  Goode  supported  at  considerable  length 
the  immediate  decision  of  the  question  em- 
braced in  the  resolution.  It  was  a  subject  of 
great  anxiety  to  a  large  portion  of  the  people 


Tht  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


of  the  State.  He  considered  it  his  impera- 
tive duty  to  move  that  the  committee  be  dis- 
charged from  the  consideration  of  the  aboli- 
tion of  slavery,  in  order  to  allay  the  doubta 
and  excitement  now  existing  and  to  prevent 
the  property  of  our  citizens  from  being  im- 
paired by  the  agitation  of  u  question  which 
threatened  the  confiscation  of  that  property. 
He  believed  the  committee  would  come  to 
the  same  conclusion  as  was  aimed  at  by  his 
resolution — that  nothing  should  be  done, 
which  he  argued  must  be  admitted  on  all 
hands,  from  the  fact  that  the  Legislature  had 
not  the  power  to  act  efficiently  on  the  sub- 
ject, nor  had  the  funds  required  for  so  great 
an  undertaking.  By  continuing  to  entertain 
the  subject  hopes  would  be  cherished  in  the 
coloured  population,  which  must  be  disap- 
pointed, and  the  present  anxiety  of  the  citi- 
zens be  prolonged. 

Mr.  Bryce  of  Frederick,  opposed  both  the 
resolution  and  the  proposed  amendment. 
He  argued  that  the  committee  having  gone 
on  with  the  consideration  of  petitions  on  this 
subject,  a  report  ought  to  be  had  from  them, 
to  be  sent  out  to  the  people,  that  they  might 
decide  on  the  question. 

Mr.  Moore  in  a  speech  of  great  length  op- 
posed the  resolution,  and  offered  various  ar- 
guments in  favor  of  acting  energetically  and 
at  once  upon  the  subject  of  the  abolition  of 
slavery,  which  he  looked  upon  as  the  heavi- 
est curse  that  could  be  inflicted  on  a  people 
and  to  which  he  attributed  the  depressed  con- 
dition of  many  parts  of  the  State.  He  com- 
batted  several  of  the  opinions  expressed  by 
Mr.  Goode,  and  went  into  a  discussion  of  the 
disastrous  effects  to  be  anticipated  from  neg- 
lecting to  remove  the  slave  population — ci- 
ting detailed  estimates  of  the  relative  increase 
of  white  and  black  population;  he  contended 
that  the  military  force  required  to  keep  the 
slave  population  in  subjection,  the  effects  of 
slavery  upon  the  morals  of  the  whites,  the 
prosperity  of  the  State  and  the  security  of 
the  lives  and  property  of  the  citizens ;  with 
various  other  considerations,  presented  pow- 
erful reasons  for  urging  the  Legislature  to  act 
promptly  and  boldly  on  the  subject. 

Mr.  Boiling  expressed  himself  opposed  to 
the  resolution.  The  Committee  had  the  whole 
subject  before  them,  and  hoped  a  report  would 
be  had  from  them,  he  stated  with  much  clear- 


ness and  force  the  evils  of  slavery,  and  urged 
a  variety  of  reasons  for  legislating  with  a  view 
of  forming  some  measure  for  its  gradual  re- 
moval. In  reply  to  the  argument  that  the 
rights  of  property  must  not  be  touched,  he 
argued  that  the  civil  rights  of  the  people  and 
the  public  safety  required,  whenever  any  des- 
cription of  property  became  a  nuisance,  that 
its  abatement  should  be  considered  a  fair  ob- 
ject of  legislation. 

Mr.  Randolph  regretted  that  the  main  sub- 
ject of  the  deliberations  of  the  Committee 
had  been  presented  to  the  House  at  this 
time,  and  hoped  it  would  not  be  considered 
hastily.  He  had  not  submitted  his  amend- 
ment as  a  fire-brand  to  stir  up  discussion,  but 
to  afford  some  tangible  question  to  the  House, 
and  to  propose  a  submission  of  the  question 
to  the  people.  He  expressed  a  different 
opinion  from  that  of  Mr.  Goode  in  relation 
to  the  cause  of  excitement  among  the  peo- 
ple which  he  thought  did  not  arise  from 
the  consideration  of  the  question  by  this 
House,  but  from  the  transactions  in  South 
Hampton.  Something  he  argued  must  be 
done,  in  relation  to  this  question,  as  it  would 
be  folly  to  remain  with  folded  arms,  and 
close  our  eyes  to  the  future,  with  the  sagacity 
of  the  Ostrich,  which  believes  itself  safe 
when  its  head  is  hidden.  It  was  impossible 
to  check  the  progress  of  public  opinion  on 
ubject — and  it  was  better  to  meet  it 
energetically,  than  be  forced  to  act  by  a  rep- 
etition of  the  masacre  at  South  Hampton. 

Mr.  Gholson  said  that  as  it  was  not  anti- 
cipated that  a  vote  would  be  taken  on  the 
resolution  to-day  and  as  the  usual  hour  of 
adjournment  had  arrived  he  would  move  the 
resolution  and  amendment  be  laid  on  the  ta- 
ble and  that  when  the  house  adjourn  it  ad- 
journ to  meet  to-morrow  at  12  o'clock,  both 
motions  having  been  agreed  to.  On  motion 
of  Mr.  Gholson  the  house  adjourned. 

Richmond  Enquirer,  December  \\th,  1835 

HOUSE  OF  DELEGATES. 

Thursday,  January  IWi  1832. 

ABOLITION  OF   SLAVERY. 

Mr.  Gholson  moved  that  the  resolution 
presented  by  Mr.  Goode  on  Wednesday, 
and  the  amendment  to  it  offered  by  Mr.  Rnn- 
dolph,  be  taken  up. 

Mr-  Haly  Burton  opposed  the  motion,    a& 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


35 


luding  to  the  unprofitable  discussion  of  Wed- 
nesday, and  expressed  a  hope  that  these  res- 
olutions would  be  suffered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

The  motion  to  take  up  was  supported  by 
Messrs.  Roane,  Gholson,  Goode  and  Brod- 
u ax,  when  Mr.  Haly  Burton  withdrew  his 
objections. 

Mr.  Randolph  opposed  the  motion  to  take 
up.  After  a  few  remarks  from  Mr.  Carter  of 
P.  W.  who  expressed  a  hope  that  the  resolu- 
tion would  be  voted  upon  without  further 
discussion.  Mr.  Witcher  sustained  the  mo- 
tion, and  on  his  motion  the  Ayes  and  Noes 
were  ordered. 

After  some  further  discussion,  in  which 
Messrs.  Chandler,  Randolph,  Witcher,  Sims 
and  Gholson  took  part,  th<  .ote  was  taken 
and  decided  in  the  affirmative  as  follows  : 
Ayes  116,  Noes  7. 

The  resolutions  being  then  before  the 
House,  after  a  short  conversation  between 
Messrs.  Bryce  of  Goochland,  Gholson  and 
Randolph,  which  resulted  in  a  withdrawal  by 
the  latter  of  his  amendment,  Mr.  Newton 
observed  that  the  amendment  could  not  be 
withdrawn  without  unanimous  consent.  He 
objected  to  its  withdrawal.  Mr.  Gholson 
then  addressed  the  House  in  a  long  argu- 
ment upon  the  main  subject,  considering  it 
with  much  eloquence  and  ingenuity  in  all 
its  bearings,  and  sustaining  the  resolution  of 
Mr.  Goode. 

He  was  replied  to  brieily  by  Mr.  Rives, 
who  argued  forcibly  in  favour  of  the  amend- 
ment of  Mr.  Randolph. 

Mr.  Brodnax  said,  that  as  many  other 
members  as  well  as  himself,  were  desirous  of 
speaking  on  this  subject,  it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  get  through  to-day.  He  therefore, 
moved  the  adjournment,  which  was  carried, 
and 

The  House  adjourned. 

Friday,  January  13th.  1832. 

ABOLITION    OF    SLAVERY. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Brodnax,  the  resolution 
of  Mr.  Goode  to  discharge  the  Committee 
on  the  subject  of  Free  negroes  &c.,  from 
the  consideration  of  the  subject  of  emanci- 
pation &c.,  and  the  amendment  thereto  of 
Mr.  Randolph,  were  taken  up,  and  Mr.  Brod- 
nax addressed  the  House  in  a  speech  of 
nearly  three  hours  length.  He  declared 


himself  equally  opposed  to  the  resolution 
and  amendment — stating  his  firm  conviction 
that  something  must  be  done  to  avert  con- 
sequences which  were  otherwise  inevitable  ; 
but  that  a  plan  for  this  purpose  ought  to 
have  as  its  polar  principles. 

1st,  That  not  a  slave  should  be  manumit- 
ted without  being  deported  from  the  State. 

2nd,  Nothing  should  be  attempted  which 
could  affect  injuriously  the  value  or  security 
of  property. 

3rd,  That  the  State  should  take  from  no 
citizen  a  slave  without  the  consent  of  the 
owner. 

Mr.  B.  then  went  into  various  arguments 
to  show  the  impolicy  of  the  plan  presented 
by  Mr.  Randolph,  and  to  prove  that  by  a 
measure  of  the  Legislature,  providing  for 
the  transportation  to  the  Colony  of  Liberia, 
of  6000  free  negroes  annually,  at  an  expen- 
diture of  $200,000,  the  increase  of  the  col- 
ored population  might  be  kept  down,  and 
the  threatened  evils  prevented. 

Mr.  Bruce  followed  Mr.  Brodnax,  and  op- 
posed the  resolution  of  Mr.  Randolph,  re- 
plying to  the  remarks  of  Messrs.  Rives, 
Moore  and  others,  and  sustaining  the  reso- 
lution of  Mr.  Goode. 

Saturday,  January  l^t/i.  1832. 

"  ABOLITION    OF    SLAVERY." 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Powell,  the  resolution 
of  Mr.  Goode,  discharging  the  Committee  of 
Free  Negroes  &c.,  from  the  consideration  of 
the  subject  of  the  emancipation  of  slaves, 
and  the  amendment  offered  to  it  by  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph, was  taken  up. 

Mr.  Powell  addressed  the  hous,e,  and  was 
followed  by  Messrs.  Daniel,  Faulkner  and 
Marshall. 

Monday,  January  \Qtli.  1832. 

"ABOLITION     OF    SLAVERY." 

Mr.  Roane  (entitled  to  the  floor,  as  mover 
of  the  adjournment  on  Saturday)  moved  the 
resolution  and  substitute,  on  the  subject  of 
the  emancipation  of  slaves,  be  now  taken 
up ;  but  withdrew  his  motion  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  Mr.  Bryce  of  G.  to  admit  of  the 
presentment  of  a  report  from  the  Select 
Committee  on  Slavery  and  Free  negroes — 
which  was  subsequently  presented  by  Mr. 
Brodnax,  as  follows : 

"  The  Select  Committee,  to  whom  was  ic  • 


36 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


ject,  will  absorb  all  our  present  means  ;  and 
that  a  further  action  for  the  removal  of  the 
slaves  should  await  a  more  definite  develop- 
ment of  public  opinion.  Resolved  &c. 

Mr.  Bryce  said  lie  moved  this  amendment 
for  the  reason  that,  being  declaratory  of  the 
opinion,  that  at  some  future  time,  when  the 
feelings  of  the  people,  which  were  proi 
ing  and  increasing,  should  have  developed 
themselves,  it  would  be  in  the  power  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  her  duty,  to  remove  the  colored 
population — it  would  prevent  the  effect  o* 
the  bare  annunciation  of  the  report.  He 
wished  the  report  of  the  Committee  to  de- 
clare that  when  we  should  possess  the  means 
of  doing  it.  ue  would  take  measures  to  re- 
move the  whole  fvil — with  a  view  to  show  to 
the  world  that  wo  look  forward  to  tho  time 
when  the  final  abolition  of  slavery  shall  take 
place — and  that  we  will  go  on,  step  by  >tep. 
to  that  great  end.  He  hoped  all  those  who 
wished  for  tho  final  removal  of  the  colon  il 
people,  would  vote  for  this  amendment. 

Mr.  Moore  rose  to  move  that  the  report 
and  amendment  be  laid  on  the  table,  because 
it  had  been  understood  that  this  report  should 
not  interfere  with  those  gentlemen  who  came 
prepared  to  debate  the  previous  propositions. 
Mr.  Bryce  said  that  injustice  to  himself  it 
was  proper  to  state  that  he  contemplated  no 
interference  in  the  debate  on  the  resolution 
and  substitute  presented  on  this  subject.  Bui 
he  wished  to  present  distinctly  to  the 
his  view  of  it.  The  wide  range  which  h,i<! 
been  allowed  gentlemen  in  that  debate  had 
embraced  every  possible  topic  connected 
with  it.  The  same  range  would  be  allowed 
in  discussing  this  question,  nor  was  it  ofl'ered 
to  stifle  discussion,  which  would  undergo  no 
restriction  by  the  adoption  of  the  preamble. 
If  the  gentlemen  from  Rockbridge  would  ex- 
amine it,  he  would  find  that  every  topic  could 
be  discussed  in  considering  the  preamble  ;i* 
well  as  upon  any  other  proposition.  He 
knew  that  gentlemen  desired  to  discuss  the 
<ub.-titute  of  the  gentleman  from  Albemarlc, 
and  that  proposition  might  with  propriety  IIP 
?ite  effort  for  the  removal,  in  the  fir.-t  place,  I  brought  into  the  debate  on  the  preamble. 
as  well  oftho.se  who  arc  now  freo,  as  of  such j  Mr.  Gholson  regretted  that  at  thr-  pronii 
as  may  hereafter  become  free,  believing  that  time  the  gentleman  from  Goochland  had 
this  effort,  while  it  ',-  In  ,u .  i  accordanco  with  presented  thn  amendment.  Ho  knew  thai 
of  the  community  on  the -.uh  not  ttrictly  in  crder,  and  the  Hou;« 


ferred  certain  memorials  praying  the  passage 
of  some  law  providing  for  the  gradual  abo- 
lition of  slavery  in  the  commonwealth,  have, 
according  to  order,  had  the  same  under  con- 
sideration, and  have  come  to  the  following 
resolution  thereupon  : 

"  Resolved,  as  the  opinion  of  tho  Com- 
mittee, that  it  is  inexpedient  for  the  present 
Legislature  to  make  any  legislative  enact- 
ment for  the  abolition  of  Slavery." 

In  presenting  this  report,  Mr.  Ikodnax 
disavowed  for  himself  and  his  colleagues, 
any  intention  to  impede,  retard,  or  give  a 
different  direction  to  the  discussion  of  the 
resolutions  which  had  thus  far  been  debated. 
It  would  have  been  a  contemptible  littleness, 
of  which  he  would  not  have  been  the  instru- 
ment, to  have  endeavoured,  by  the  presenta- 
tion of  this  report,  to  check  tho  free  course 
of  a  discussion,  in  which  certain  gentlemen 
had  already  engaged,  and  in  which  others 
were  prepared  to  express  themselves^  There 
would  be  no  difficulty  in  proceeding  with  the 
debate.  There  was  no  reason  why  the  gen- 
tleman from  Albemarle  should  not  move  his 
•substitute  as  an  amendment  to  this  report. 
So  far  from  this  report  having  been  introduced 
to  favor  any  views  of  the  member*  of  the 
Committee,  Mr.  B.  could  refer  to  the  mag- 
nanimous gentleman  from  Rockbridge,  who 
would  state  that  it  was  presented  at  his  re- 
quest. 

Mr.  Moore  said 
the  chairman  and  members  of  the  committee 
to  say,  that  he  had  requested  that  the  report 
might  be  presented  to  the  House,  as  he  wished 
to  have  the  whole  subject  before  the  House 
at  once,  to  be  decided  upon  finally. 

Mr.  Bryce  of  G.  moved  that  the  report  be 
now  taken  up,  which  having  been  agreed  to, 
Mr.  B.  offered  the  following  as  an  amend- 
ment : — 

Profoundly  sensible  of  the  great  evils 
arising  from  the  condition  of  the  colored 
population  of  this  Commonwealth  ;  induced 
by  humanity  as  well  as  policy  to  an  itnmudi- 


that  it  was  but  justice  to 


The  Virginian  History  of  Jlfrican  Colonization, 


37 


might  be  placed  in  the  awkward  predicament 
of  adopting  the  substitute  of  the  gentleman 
from  Albemarle  along  with  the  preamble. 
He  wished  the  propositions  first  presented 
might  be  debated.  The  preamble  of  the 
gentleman  presented  a  new  question.  It 
went  to  declare  that  although  the  present 
Legislature  did  not  consider  it  expedient  to 
act  upon  the  subject  of  abolition,  it  was  pro- 
per that  some  future  Legislature  should  act. 
The  original  resolution  ought  first  to  be  dis- 
cussed and  decided  ;  and  the  resolution  and 
preamble  afterwards  taken  up. 

"Mr.  Preston  objected  to  the  consideration 
of  the  preamble  at  this  time.  He  believed 
that  by  taking  up  the  Report  of  the  Commit- 
tee the  original  resolutions  were  both  super- 
seded— they  were  taken  from  before  the 
House.  He  hoped  that  a  motion  would  be 
made  to  reverse  the  resolution  reported  by 
the  Committee,  and  refer  it  back  to  them, 
with  directions  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  the  grad- 
ual emancipation  of  slaves.  For  that  pur- 
pose he  hoped  the  gentleman  from  Rock- 
bridge  would  withdraw  his  motion  to  lay  on 
the  table. 

Mr.  Moore  withdrew  the  motion. 

Mr.  Brodnax  said  that  there  seemed  to  him 
no  embarrassment  in  getting  at  this  subject. 
The  questions  were  the  same.  Any  gentle- 
man, who  argued  that  the  report  ought  to  be, 
or  not  to  be  adopted,  would  be  for  one  or 
other  of  the  original  propositions.  He  hoped 
therefore,  that  the  gentleman  from  Hanover 
would  be  allowed  to  proceed. 

Mr.  Randolph  could  not  agree  with  the 
gentleman  from  Brunswick  or  Montgomery. 
He  was  acting  with  many  other  gentlemen, 
and  he  believed  a  majority  of  the  House 
agreed  with  him  OK  the  general  question. 
He  knew  that,  novice  as  he  was  in  public 
debate — having  never  in  his  life  addressed 
a  dozen  men  a  half  a  dozen  times, — he  had 
assumed  a  task  of  no  mean  importance.  He 
ielt  that  he  had  attempted  a  duty  for  which 
all  the  habits  of  his  life  had  left  him  unpre- 
pared— and  that  he  was  opposed  to  those 
who  were  covered  with  the  laurels  of  for- 
mer victories.  He  felt  his-  weakness,  but  as 
it  was.  having  entered  the  arena,  he  was 
determined  to  go  on  in  the  causo  lie  had 
adopted. 

Mr.   Carter  cf  Prince  William  observed, 


that  he  presumed  the  gentleman  at  his  right 
(Mr.  Preston)  would  be  very  glad  to  with- 
draw the  proposition  of  the  gentleman  from 
Albermarle.  But  so  excellent  a  target  ought 
not  to  be  withdrawn  until  some  other  gen- 
tleman should  have  an  opportunity  to  take  a 
shot  at  it — not  that  he  (Mr.  Carter)  was  de- 
sirous to  participate  in  the  discussion.  He 
hoped,  however,  that  the  report  and  amend- 
ment would  be  laid  on  the  table,  and  he 
made  that  motion. 

Mr.  Preston  trusted  the  gentleman  did  not 
intend  to  imply  that  he  (Mr.  P.)  had  pursued 
an  improper  course — (Mr.  Carter  disavowed 
any  such  implication.)  Mr.  P.  alluded  to 
the  course  this  subject  had  taken  in  the 
House — the  petitions  originally,  presented — 
their  reference — and  the  resolution  intro- 
duced by  the  gentleman  from  Mecklenburg 
(Mr.  Goode.) 

That  resolution  proposed  the  discharge  of 
the  Committee  from  the  further  considera- 
tion of  this  subject;  but  the  Committee 
having  reported,  and  thereby  having  dis- 
charged themselves  from  the  further  consid- 
eration, the  subject  of  the  resolution  was  no 
longer  before  the  House.  How  could  gen- 
tlemen fire  at  a  target  which  had  been  re- 
moved ?  The  red  hot  shot  of  the  gentleman 
from  Prince  William  had  no  longer  a  mark. 
He,  therefore,  in  order  to  continue  the  dis- 
cussion, moved  that  the  House  disagree 
with  the  resolution  of  the  Committee,  and 
that  the  report  be  referred  back  to  them 
with  instructions  to  bring  in  a  bill  providing 
for  the  gradual  emancipation  of  slaves  in 
this  Commonwealth. 

Mr.  Bryce  was  not  in  the  habit  of  being 
troublesome  to  the  House,  but  he  would  of- 
fer a  few  words.  He  argued  that  the  posi- 
tion of  the  subject  was  not  materially  changed 
by  the  presentation  of  the  Report  and  his 
amendment.  He  hoped  the  resolutions 
would  not  be  taken  from  the  consideration 
tion  of  the  House  ;  but  the  first  question  was 
on  the  preamble,  and  then  the  resolutions 
could  be  decided.  All  those  wb^q.  agreed 
with  him  that  the  Legislature  ought  to  act  on 
the  subject  of  emancipation  might  vote  with 
him  and  all  those  who  wished  a  bill  to  be  re- 
ported might  also  vote  with  him.  without  the 
least  inconsistency — and  also  move  to  bring- 
in  a  bill.  In  regard  to  the  remark  of  the 


38 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  ColdnizatitMi. 


gentleman  from  Brunswick,  he  believed  he 
had  been  long  enough  a  member  of  the 
House  to  understand  the  rules,  nor  did  he 
think  he  had  violated  them.  He  believed 
all  the  objects  of  gentlemen  would  be  an- 
swered by  considering  the  preamble. 

Mr.  Campbell  of  Brooke  said  that,  although 
he  was  not  very  deeply  versed  in  the  rules 
of  the  House,  he  believed  all  could  see  the 
object  of  the  preamble  and  its  effect.  The 
Committee  reported  that  it  was  inexpedient 
to  act  upon  the  question  of  abolition  ;  and 
the  preamble  stated  their  reasons  for  arriving 
at  that  conclusion.  Should  those,  then,  who 
desired  to  reverse  the  resolution,  defer  it  un- 
til they  should  have  adopted  the  reasons 
why  the  Committee  had  reported  against  ac- 
ting upon  the  subject  ?  The  friends  of  ac- 
tive measures  were  not  there  to  be  en- 
trapped. The  proposition  of  the  gentleman 
from  Montgomery  was  the  only  correct  one. 
How  was  it  possible  to  go  on  to  discuss  a 
resolution  to  discharge  from  further  conside- 
ration of  the  subject  the  Committee,  who 
had  pre-judged  the  question?  It  would  be 
idle  to  discuss  such  a  proposition.  He  was 
opposed  to  laying  the  Report  on  the  table, 
and  in  favour  of  the  motion  of  the  gentle- 
man from  Montgomery,  because  it  brought  a 
tangible  question  before  the  House. 

Mr.  Newton  hoped  the  motion  to  lay  the 
report  and  amendment  on  the  table  would 
prevail.  The  gentleman  from  Albemarle 
(Mr.  Randolph)  had  introduced  to  the  House 
a  subject  of  the  most  astounding  character; 
and  he  hoped  the  House  would  allow  that 
monstrous  proposition  to  be  discussed.  The 
gentleman  from  Albemarle  had  prepared 
the  laurel  for  his  brow,  and  Mr.  N.  did  not 
wish  to  deprive  him  of  the  honor  of  wear- 
ing it.  But  he  wished  to  be  allowed  to 
write  upon  this  wall,  his  solemn  conviction 
that  the  gentleman  from  Albemarle  had 
proposed  a  question  which  struck  at  the 
foundationsof  aRepublicanGovernment.  He 
wished  to  present  his  views  of  this  proposi- 
tion, which  brings  us  back  to  an  absolute 
Democracy.  He  hoped  that  the  question  of 
abolition  would  now  be  considered  and  deci- 
ded. 

Mr.  Williams  put  the  question  to  the  gen- 
tleman from  Goochland,  whether  the  same 
liberty  of  debate  would  be  allowed  in  dis- 


cussing the  preamble  as  the  original  resolu- 
tions. He  spoke  to  the  question  of  order. 
He  trusted,  that  after  so  many  gentlemen 
had  been  heard — after  the  question  had  been 
debated  for  several  days,  a  new  subject  was 
not  to  be  introduced  to  distract  that  discus- 
sion. The  West  had  been  spoken  of  in  in- 
vedious  terms  in  this  debate,  and  remarks 
that  had  been  made  in  a  debate  on  the  ori- 
ginal question,  ought  to  be  replied  to  in  con- 
tinuation of  tlio  same  subject.  He  believed 
that,  however  clear  and  microscopic  the 
topics  might  be,  which  the  gentleman  con- 
sidered embraced  in  this  debate,  they  would 
expand  to  such  an  extent  that  they  could  not 
be  embraced  by  the  vision  of  any  man.  He 
hoped  the  gentleman  from  Hanover  would 
be  allowed  to  proceed. 

Mr.  Moore  remarked,  that  it'  the  gentle- 
man from  Goochland  pressed  the  adoption 
of  the  preamble  at  this  time,  although  in  fa- 
vor of  it,  he,  (Mr.  M.)  must  vote  against  it. 

Mr.  Miller  of  P.,  rose,  not  to  debate  this 
question,  but'  to  endeavour  to  relieve  the 
House  from  Parliamentary  difficulty.  The 
resolution  of  the  gentleman  from  Mecklen- 
berg  embraced""two  propositions— the  one  to 
discharge  the  Committee  from  the  further 
consideration  of  the  subject  of  abolition, 
and  the  other  declaring  it  inexpedient  now 
to  legislate  on  the  subject.  The  substitute 
of  the  gentleman  from  Albemarle  embraced 
a  specific  proposition.  Those  propositions 
had  been  discussed,  and  he  thought  it  better 
that  the  debate  should  be  continued  upon 
them.  The  second  proposition  of  the  gen- 
tleman from  Mecklenberg  was  the  same  as 
that  of  the  resolution  of  the  Committee.  It 
states  that  it  is  not  expedient  to  legislate  at 
all  on  the  subject,  while  the  report  declares 
it  not  expedient  to  legislate  on  it  at  this  time. 
The  former  opened  the  question  a  little  wi- 
der than  the  latter :  otherwise  they  were  the 
same.  He  thought  it  therefore  advisable  to 
lav  the  report  on  the  table,  and  allow  the  de- 
bate to  proceed. 

Mr.  Carter  of  P.  W.  rose  to  move  that  the 
House  take  up  the  whole  subject — report  an 
amendment — resolution  and  substitute. 

Mr.  Bryce  expressed  his  willingness  to 
withdraw  his  amendment,  with  the  under- 
standing, that  befoje  the  report  was  final'} 


The  Virginian  Hisiary  of  African  Colonization. 


acted  upon,  his  proposition  should  be  deci- 
ded by  the  House. 

Mr.  Marshall  was  happy  that  the  pream- 
ble was  withdrawn.  He  agreed  with  the 
gentleman  from  Goochland  as  to  the  propri- 
ety of  that  preamble,  but  at  present  it  was 
not  the  subject  on  which  the  House  could 
act. 

Mr.  Bryce  having  withdrawn  his  amend- 
ment, the  question  was  taken  to  lay  on  the 
table  and  decided  in  the  negative — Ayes  60. 
Noes  62. 

Mr.  Preston  moved  that  the  resolution  re- 
ported from  the  Committee  be  amended  by 
striking  out  the  word  "  inexpedient"  and  in- 
serting the  word  "  expedient,"  so  as  to  re- 
verse the  decision  of  the  Committee. 

Mr.  Roane  then  addressed  the  House  at 
considerable  length,  and  was  followed  by 
Messrs.  Wood  of  Albemarle,  and  Preston. 

At  the  conclusion  of  these  speeches, 

Mr.  Knox  said  he  had  been  pleased  and 
surprised,  and  astounded,  at  the  opinions 
which  he  had  heard  expressed  this  day. 
Such  was  now  the  position  of  things,  that 
every  man  was  called  on  imperiously  to 
stand  to  his  post.  But  perceiving  that  the 
House  was  exhausted,  and  the  hour  a  late 
one,  he  moved  the  adjournment. 

TUESDAY,  January  17,  1832. 
"ABOLITION  OF  SLAVERY." 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Newton,  the  report  of 
the  Committee  on  Slaves  and  Free  Negroes 
was  taken  up. 

Mr.  Knox  addressed  the  House  on  the 
subject,  and  was  followed  by  Messrs.  Sum- 
mers and  Chandler. 

WEDNESDAY,  January  18,  1832. 
"SLAVES,  FREE  NEGROES,"  &c. 

Mr.  Dabney  presented  a  petition  of  sun- 
dry citizens  of  the  county  of  King  William, 
for  the  removal  of  the  free  people  of  color 
from  the  Commonwealth,  and  for  the  pur- 
chase of  a  portion  of  the  slaves,  and  their 
removal. 

Mr.  Dabney  remarked,  in  presenting  this 
petition,  that  he  regretted  it  had  not  reached 
him  earlier,  and  before  the  committee  on  the 
subject  had  reported.  He  had  arrived  at 
the  same  conclusion  with  the  committee, 
that  nothing  could  be  done  beyond  the  re- 


moval of  the  free  negroes.  But  in  compli- 
ance with  the  will  of  his  constituents,  he 
might  be  willing  to  go  so  far  as  to  agree  to 
the  passage  of  a  law  for  sending  out  of  the 
country  all  slaves  voluntarily  emancipated. 
But  beyond  this  he  could  not  go. 

Mr.  Sims  moved  to  lay  the  petition  on  the 
table,  which  was  opposed  by  Mr.  Dabney, 
who  urged  its  reference. 

Mr.  Sims  replied,  observing  that  as  there 
was  now  before  the  House  a  motion  to  dis- 
charge the  committee  from  the  further  con- 
sideration of  the  subject,  and  as  a  report 
from  the  committee  had  already  been  pre- 
sented, he  thought  it  improper  to  refer  this 
petition. 

The  petition  having  been  read  on  motion 
of  Mr.  Moore,  Mr.  Sims  withdrew  his  mo- 
tion to  lay  on  the  table,  and  it  was  referred. 

"  ABOLITION  OF  SLAVERY." 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Brown,  the  report  of 

the  Committee  on  the  subject  of  Slavery, 

and  the  amendment  thereto  of  Mr.  Preston, 

was  taken  up. 
Mr.  Brown   addressed   the   House  in  a 

speech  of  about  two  hours  in  length,  and 

was  followed  by  Mr.  Garland. 

THURSDAY,  January  19,  1832. 
"ABOLITION  OF  SLAVERY." 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Williams,  the  report  of 
the  Committee  on  Slaves  and  Free  Negroes, 
adverse  to  any  measure  on  the  subject  of 
emancipation,  was  taken  up. 

Mr  Williams  addressed  the  House,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  day  was  occupied  by 
Mr.  Shell. 

FRIDAY,  January  20,  1832. 
"ABOLITION  OF  SLAVERY." 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Randolph,  the  report  of 
the  Committee  on  Slaves,  Free  Negroes,  &c., 
and  the  amendment  of  Mr.  Preston  were 
taken  up. 

Mr.  Randolph  addressed  the  House  at 
great  length,  and  was  followed  by  Messrs. 
Newton  and  Berry. 

TUESDAY,  January  24,  1832, 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Goode,  the  report  of 
the  Committee  on  Slaves  and  the  amend* 
ment  offered  by  Mr.  Preston  were  taken  up. 
Mr.  Goode  addressed  the  House  in  sup- 
port of  the  Report,  and  in  defence  of  the 
course  he  had  taken,  in  a  speech  of  about 


40 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


two  hours  in  length,  and  was  followed  by 
Mr.  Jones. 

Mr.  Moore  then  spoke  at  considerable 
length  in  reply  to  various  members. 

WEDNESDAY,  Januaiy  2o///,  1832. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Wilson  of  B.  the  Report 
of  the  Committee  on  the  colored  population, 
and  Mr.  Preston's  amendment  thereto,  was 
taken  up. 

Mr.  Rutherfoord  explained  the  reasons  on 
which  he  should  vote  against  the  amend- 
ment. 

Mr.  Boiling  addressed  the  House  at  much 
length. 

Messrs.  Patteson  of  C.,  Brooker,  Brodnax, 
Jones,  Ball,  Gallagher,  Roane,  Gholson  and 
Moore  continued  the  debate. 

Mr.  Rives  said  he  merely  wished  to  point 
out  to  the  gentleman  from  Montgomery  (Mr. 
Preston)  the  anomalous  position  in  which  the 
house  was  placed  by  his  motion  to  amend 
the  report.  Mr.  R.  did  not  believe  there 
was  a  member  in  the  House  who  was  in  fa- 
vor of  legislating  upon  the  subject  of  aboli- 
tion this  year.  In  saying  this  he  did  not  re- 
gret that  the  debate  upon  the  subject  had  ta- 
ken place  ;  on  the  contrary,  he  thought  it 
would  be  highly  beneficial.  Yet,  if  this  mo- 
tion were  to  be  voted  upon  as  the  measure 
of  the  friends  of  abolition,  this  result  would 
happen ;  it  would  be  entered  on  the  Journal 
that  the  House  voted  for  acting  this  year — 
at  the  same  time  every  member,  when  asked 
the  question,  said  he  was  not  in  favour  of 
acting.  The  report  seemed  to  him  fully  in 
accordance  with  the  views  even  of  those 
members  who  were  in  favor  of  abolition. 
He  could  not  speak  positively,  but  he  did 
not  think  there  was  a  member  from  a  coun- 
ty east  of  the  Ridge,  who  would  vote  for  the 
amendment.  There  were  many  gentle- 
men who  like  himself  would  declare  that 
their  opinions  were  not  changed  as  to  the 
subject  of  abolition,  but  who  did  not  wish  to 
have  it  put  down  on  the  Journal  that  they 
were  ready  for  action  now,  when  in  reality 
they  wore  not.  The  whole  subject  was  still 
before  the  Committee,  and  a  vote  upon  the 
Report  would  procure  the  sense  of  the  House. 

Mr.  Preston  declined  withdrawing  his  mo- 
tion. He  wished  the  House  to  decide  wheth- 
er they  would  adopt  some  preliminary  mode 


of  action.  If  any  scheme  should  be  pre- 
sented which  did  not  meet  his  approbation, 
he  should  not  consider  himself  pledged  by 
his  vote  for  the  amendment,  to  vote  for  it. 

Mr.  Rives  said  that  if  the  gentleman 
would  submit  a  motion  to  recommit  the  re- 
port to  the  Committee,  with  instruction-  to 
report  upon  a  plan  of  abolition,  it  would  ;neet 
the  views  of  the  House.  If  the  amend- 
ment was  agreed  to,  the  Committee  would 
as  a  matter  of  course  be  instructed  to  bring 
in  a  bill, — while  there  was  not.  he  believed, 
a  single  member  who  thought  a  plan  could 
be  presented  for  which  they  would  be  will- 
ing to  vote.  The  gentleman  from  Montgom- 
ery shakes  hi.s  head,  said  Mr.  R.  I  believe 
he  is  alone,  if  he  is  prepared  to  go  for  any 
plan  of  abolition  at  this  time. 

Mr.  Wilson  of  B.  said,  that  as  voting  for 
the  amendment  would  imply  no  pledge  to 
vote  for  any  particular  measure  that  would 
take  from  the  citizen  his  property,  he  should 
vote  for  the  amendment.  A  large  number 
of  the  citizens  of  Botetourt  were  convinced 
that  the  existence  of  slavery  Avas  an  evil. 
and  desired  the  adoption  of  some  measure 
which  should  tend  to  its  ultimate  removal. 
They  had  asked  that  something  should  be 
done — nor  could  he  return  to  them  and  say 
that  he  had  made  no  exertion  to  meet  their 
wishes.  He  should,  therefore,  vote  for  the 
amendment. 

Mr.  Witcher  said  he  did  not  rise  to  make 
a  speech.  He  had  listened  to  all  the  speech- 
es which  had  been  made  on  this  subject, 
with  the  most  profound  attention,  and  he 
now  rose  to  make  a  motion,  the  first  he  had 
made  since  this  question  came  before  the 
House.  His  motion  was  that  the  Report  and 
amendment  be  indefinitely  postponed.  He 
made  this  motion  because  if  the  House  vo- 
ted out — as  he  had  no  doubt  they  would — 
the  amendment  of  the  gentleman  from 
Montgomery,  discussion  would  be  excited 
by  other  attempts  to  amend.  He  wished  to 
prevent  this,  and  he  also  wished,  if  possible, 
to  obtain  the  vote  of  each  member,  pro  or 
con,  on  the  question  of  abolition. 

The  question  being  then  put  on  the  indefi- 
nite postponement,  it  was  negatived  by  the 
following  vote : 

Ayes.  Messrs.  Banks  (Speaker.;  (irinalds, 
Booker,  Campbell  of  B.,  Pate,  Gholaon. 


The  Virginian  History  of  African,  Colonization. 


Shell,  Patteson  of  B.,  Daniel,  Halyburton, 
Richardson, Patteson  of  C.,  Pendleton,  Broad- 
us,  Wilson  of  C.,  Brodnax,  Ritchie,  Ball, 
Chilton,  Stillman,  Hale  of  F.,  Woods  of  F., 
Bryceof  F.,  Smith  of  F.,  Smith  of  G.,  Spen- 
cer, Bruce,  Sims,  Graveley,  Jordan,  Shield 
Gallaher,  Hanvood,  Hooe,  Dabney,  Carter 
of  L.  and  R.,  Poindexter,  Street,  Hudgins, 
Goode  of  M..  Knox,  Webb,  Cabell,  Fisher, 
Harvey,  Anderson  of  N.,  Davis,  Witcher, 
Swanson,  Miller,  Dupuy,  Sand,  Lhands,  Car- 
ter of  P.  W.,  Carson,  Cobb,  Crump,  Har- 
grave,  Newton  and  Brown— 60. 

"Noes.  Messrs.  Drummond,  Wood  of  A., 
Randolph, Persinger,Garland,McCue,  Brooke, 
Cameron,  Faulkner,  Goode  of  B.,  Anderson 
of  B.,  Wilson  of  B.,  Campbell  of  B.,  Boiling, 
Spurlock.  Rives,  Jones,  Marshall,  Stephen- 
son,  Helms,  Wood  of  Fred.,  Snidow,  Bryce 
,of  G.,  Erskine,  Carskadon,  Poston,  Roane, 
Mullen,  Williams,  Johnson,  Mayo,  Berry, 
Summers,  Allen,  Hays,  Lawson,  Mcllhaney, 
Cordell,  Caldwell,  Smith  ofM.  J.,  Billingsly, 
Henry,  Vawter,  Preston,  Chandler,  Leigh, 
Fitzhugh,  Parriott,  Robertson,  'Hiner,  Gilli- 
land,  Zinn,  Hart,  Moore,  McDowell,  Mc- 
Mahon,  Cline,  Jessee,  Kilgore,  Bare,  Powell, 
Moncure,  Gillespie,  McCoy,  McCullock, 
Keller,  Morriss,  Crockett,  Kins;  and  Ruther- 
foord— 71. 

The  question  then  recurring  on  Mr.  Pres- 
ton's amendment,  it  was  determined  in  the 
negative  by  the  following  vote  : 

Ayes.  Messrs.  Drummond,  Randolph, 
Persinger,  Garland,  McCue,  Brooke,  Came- 
ron, Faulkner,  Goode  of  B.,  Anderson  of 
B.,  Wilson  of  B.,  Campbell  of  Brooke.  Boil- 
ing, Spurlock,  Jones,  Stephenson,  Helms. 
Wood  of  F.,  Snidow,  Hail,  Erskine,  Carska- 
don, Poston,  Williams,  Johnson,  Mayo,  Sum- 
mers, Allen,  Hays,  Lawson,  Mcllhany,  Cor- 
dell, Caldwell,  Smith  of  M.,  and  J.,  Billings- 
ly, Henry,  Vawter,  Preston,  Filrhugh,  Par- 
riott, Robertson,  Hinor,  Gilhland,  Zinn, 
Hart,  Moore  McDowell,  McMahon,  Cline, 
Jessee,  Kilgore,  Bare,  Gillespie,  McCoy, 
McCuliock,  Keller,  Morriss,  Crockett — 58. 

Noes.  Messrs.  Banks  (Speaker,)  Grinalds, 
Wood  of  A.,  Booker,  Campbell  of  Bedford, 
Pate,  Gholson,  Shell,  Patteson  of  B.,  Rives. 
Daniel,  Halyburton,  Richardson,  Patteson  of 
C.,  Pendleton,  Broadus,  Wilson  of  C.,- Brod- 
nax, Ritchie,  Ball,  Chilton,  Marshall,  Still- 


man, Hale,  Wood  of  Franklin,  Bryce  of  F., 
Smith  of  F.,  Smith  of  G.,  Bryce  of  G.,  Spen- 
cer, Bruce,  Sims,  Roane,  Mullen,  Graveley, 
Jordan,  Shield,  Gallaher,  Berry,  Harwood, 
Hooe,  Dabney,  Carter  of  L.  and  R.,  Poin- 
dexter, Street,  Hudgings,  Goode  of  M.,  Knox, 
Webb,  Cabell,  Chandler,  Leigh,  Fisher,  Har- 
vey, Anderson  of  N.,  Davis,  Witcher,  Swan- 
son,  Miller,  Dupuy,  Land,  Shands,  Carter  of 
P.  W.,  Carson,  Cobb,  Powell,  Moncure, 
Crump,  Hargrave,  Newton,  King,  Brown 
and  Rutherfoord — 73. 

Mr.  Bryce  of  G.,  then  offered  the  pream- 

— proposed  by  him  at  a  former  stage  of 
the  discussion,  and  sustained  it  by  some 
orief  remarks. 

Mr.  Booker  moved  to  postpone  the  report 
and  amendment  until  the  31st.  March.  Re- 
jected, Ayes  56.  Noes  66. 

Mr.  Sims  opposed  the  preamble  at  some 
length — some  further  discussion  took  place, 
in  which  Messrs.  Bryce  of  Goochland, 
Witcher,  Miller,  Brodnax,  Brown,  Marshall 
and  Gallaher  took  a  part — the  question  was 
taken  on  the  preamble,  which  was  adopted 
by  the  following  vote : 

Ayes.  Messrs.  Grinalds,  Randolph,  Per- 
singer. Garland,  McCue,  Brooke,  Cameron, 
Faulkner,  Goode  of  B.,  Wilson  of  B.,  Camp- 
bell of  Brooke,  Boiling,  Spurlock,  Rives, 
Jones,  Wood  of  F.,  Bryce  of  F.,  Snidow, 
Bryce  of  G.,  Hail,  Erskine,  Carskadon,  Pos- 
ton, Roane,  Mullen,  Williams,  Johnson, 
Gallaher,  Berry,  Summers,  Hooe,  Allen, 
Hays,  Lawson,  Mcllhaney,  Cordell,  Cald- 
well, Smith  of  M.  and  J.,  Billingsly,  Henry, 
Vawter,  Preston,  Chandler,  Leigh,  Fitzhugh, 
Parriott,  Robertson,  Hiner,  Gijliland,  Zinn, 
Hart,  Moore,  McDowell,  McMahon,  Cline, 
Jessee,  Kilgore,  Bare,  Powell,  Moncure,  Mc- 
Coy, McCullock,  Keller,  Crockett,  King, 
Rutherfoord,  67. 

Noes.  Messrs.  Banks  (Speaker,)  Wood  of 
A.,  Patteson  of  B.,  Daniel,  Halyburton, 
Richardson,  Patteson  of  C.,  Pendleton,  Broad- 
ers,  Wilson  of  C.,  Brodnax,  Ritchie,  Ball, 
Chilton,  Marshall,  Stillman,  Helms,  Hale  of 
F.,  Woods  of  Franklin,  Smith  of  F.  Smith 
of  G.,  Spencer,  Bruce,  Sims,  Gravelly,  Jor- 
dan, Shield,  Harwood,  Dabney,  Carter  of  L. 
and  R.,  Poindexter,  Street,  Hudgings,  Goode 
of  M.,  Knox,  Webb,  Cabell,  Fisher,  Har- 
vey. Anderson  of  N.,  Davie,  Witcher,  Swan- 


42 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


son,  Miller,  Dupuy,  Land,  Shands,  Carter  of 
P.  Wm.,  Carson,  Cobb,  Crump,  Hargrave, 
Gillespie,  Newton,  Brown,  60. 

The  question  then  recurred  on  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  Committee,  and  was  decided  in 
the  affirmative  without  a  division — and  the 
question  being  taken  on  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  as  amended,  it  was  adopted  by 
the  following  vote — the  Ayes  and  Noes  hav- 
ing been  ordered  on  motion  of  Mr.  Ritchie. 
Ayes.  Messrs.  Grinalds,  Randolph,  Per- 
singer,  Garland,  McCue,  Brooke,  Cameron, 
Faulkner.  Goode  of  B.,  Wilson  of  B.,  Camp- 
bell of  B..  Boiling,  Spurlock,  Rives,  Jones, 
Wood  of  F.,  Bryce  of  F.,  Snidow,  Bryce  of 
G.,  Hail,  Erskine,  Preston,  Roane,  Mullen, 
Williams,  Johnson,  Mayo,  Gallaher,  Berry, 
Summers,  Hooe,  Allen,  Hays,  Mcllhaney, 
Cordell,  Caldwell,  Smith  of  M.  and  J., 
Henry,  Vawter,  Preston,  Chandler,  Leigh, 
Fit/hugh,  Parriott,  Robertson,  Hiner,  Gilli- 
land,  Zinn,  Hart,  Moore,  McDowell,  Mc- 
Mahon,  Cline,  Jessee,  Kilgore,  Bare,  Pow- 
ell, Moncure,  McCoy,  McCullock,  Keller, 
Crockett,  King,  Rutherfoord — 64. 

Noes.  Messrs.  Banks  (Speaker,)  Wood  ol 
A,  Booker,  Campbell  of  B.,  Pate,  Gholson, 
Shell,  Patteson  of  B.,  Daniel  Halyburton, 
Richardson,  Patteson  of  C.,  Pendleton, 
Broadus,  Wilson  of  C.,  Brodnax,  Ritchie, 
Ball,  Chilton,  Marshall,  Stillman,  Helms, 
Hale  of  F.,  Woods  of  F.,  Smith  of  F., 
Smith  of  G.,  Spencer,  Bruce,  Sims,  Grave- 
ly, Jordan,  Shield,  Harwood,  Dabney,  Car- 
ter of  L.  and  R.,  Poindexter,  Street,  Hudg- 
ings,  Goode  of  M.,  Knox,  Webb.  Cabell, 
Fisher,  Harvey,  Anderson  of  N.,  Witcher, 
Swanson,  Miller,  Dupuy,  Land,  Shands,  Car- 
ter of  P.  W.,  Carson,  Cobb,  Crump, 
grave,  Gillespie,  Newton,  Brown,  59. 
The  Report  as  amended  is  as  follows  : 
The  Select  Committee,  to  whom  was  re- 
ferred certain  memorials  praying  the  pas- 
sage of  a  law  providing  for  the.  gradual  abo- 
lition of  slavery  in  this  Commonwealth, 
have,  according  to  order,  had  the  same 
under  consideration,  and  submit  the  follow- 
ing report  and  resolution  : 

Profoundly  sensible  of  the  great  evils  ari- 
sing from  the  condition  of  the  colored  popu 
lalion   of  this    Commonwealth:    induced  by 
humanity  a*  woll  as  policy  to  an  immediate 
effort   for  the  removal  in  the  first  place,  as 


well  of  those  who  are  now  free,  as  of  such 
as  may  hereafter  become  free ;  believing 
that  this  effort,  while  it  is  in  just  accordance 
with  the  sentiments  of  the  community  on 
the  subject,  will  absorb  all  our  present 
means  ;  and  that  a  further  action  for  the  re- 
moval of  the  slaves  should  await  a  more 
definite  development  of  public  opinion. 

Resolved,  as  the   opinion  of  this  Commit* 
ee,  that  it  is  inexpedient,  for  the  present, 
o  make  any  Legislative   enactments  for  the 
abolition  of  slavery. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Debate  in  ike   General  Jisttmbfy  of    Virginia 

upon  the  removal  of  free  negroes,  cS'c.  .l/m- 

sures  proposed  in   the  House  of  Delegates. 

Substitute  of  .Mr.   .Morgan  of  the   Semite. 

Votes  upon  the  various  propositions. 

FRIDAY.  January  27M.  1832. 
M  FREE  NEGROES.*1 

Mr.  Brodnax,  from  the  Committee  on  the 
Shivrs  and  Free  Negroes,  introduced  a  bill 
to  provide  for  the  removal  of  the  free  per- 
sons of  color  from  this  Commonwealth. 

Mr.  Miller  said  the  importance  of  this  bill 
made  it  proper  that  it  should  be  printed. 

Mr.  Brodnax  said  that  it  had  been  contem- 
plated by  him,  that,  at  some  appropriate 
stage  of  the  proceedings  on  this  bill,  it  would 
be  necessary  to  print  it ;  but  he  thought  the 
principle  on  which  the  House  would  act 
should  first  be  ascertained. 

Mr.  .Marshall  said  that  two  courses  wore 
to  be  considered — one  leading  to  a  compul- 
sory measure  for  the  removal  of  free  per- 
sons of  colour, — the  other  a  more  benignant 
method  of  proceeding.  The  course  which 
the  House  would  take  would,  he  had  no 
doubt,  accord  with  the  views  of  the  gentle- 
man from  Powhatan,  but  that  question  had 
best  be  first  acted  on. 

Mr.  Miller  said,  that  if  the  question  was 
now  before  the  House,  whether  the  measure 
should  be  compulsory  or  otherwise,  the  Com- 
mittee had  better  ask  instructions.  He  was 
not  now  prepared  for  any  compulsory  mea- 
sure. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Brodnax, the  Clerk  pro- 
ceeded to  read  the,  bill. 

M/.  Williams  said,  that  every  '.'entleinan 
must  know  the  objects  of  this  bill — and  he 


The  Virginian  History  of  Jlfnc.an  Colonization. 


4r> 
•  > 


thought  the  reading  of  it  ought  to  be  de- 
ferred, as  the  House,  from  the  excessive 
coldness  of  the  weather,  was  now  very  thin. 
He  therefore  moved  to  lay  the  bill  on  the 
table,  which  was  agreed  to — Ayes  45,  Noes 
45 — the  Speaker  voting  in  the  affirmative. 
And  the  bill  was,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, ordered  to  be  printed. 

MONDAY,  January  30M.  1832. 

The  following  resolution,  reported  by  the 
Committee  on  Free  Negroes,  was  taken  up 
and  agreed  to : 

•*  Resolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  apply  to 
the  General  Government  to  procure  a  terri- 
tory or  territories  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
United  States,  to  which  the  several  States 
may  remove  their  free  colored  population. 

At  a  subsequent  period  of  the  proceedings, 
Mr.  Brodnax  moved  the  re-consideration  of 
the  vote  on  the  above  resolution — observing 
that  it  was  not  the  intention  of  the  Commit- 
tee to  press  the  consideration  of  this  resolu- 
tion, until  the  bill  relative  to  the  removal  of 
free  persons  of  colour  should  have  been  ac- 
ted upon  ;  as  it  would  be  unnecessary  to  pro- 
vide a  territory  for  their  reception  unless  the 
Legislature  should  determine  upon  their  re- 
moval. 

Messrs.  Williams  and  Moore  opposed  the 
re-consideration. 

TUESDAY,  January  31,  1832. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Brodnax,  the  bill  pro- 
viding for  the  removal  of  free  persons  of 
color  from  this  Commonwealth,  was  taken 
up,  and  read  twice. 

Mr.  Brodnax  moved  that  the  bill  be  com- 
mitted to  the  whole  House,  and  made  the 
order  of  the  day  for  Monday  next. 

Mr.  Witcher  was  opposed  to  referring  the 
bill  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole,  as  the 
discussion  would  in  that  case  be  had  twice 
over.  The  House  in  Committee  of  the  Whole 
was  always  thin ;  and  he  thought  that  it  was 
better  to  allow  the  bill  to  come  before  the 
House,  and  hoped  the  gentleman  would  with- 
draw his  motion. 

Mr.  Brodnax  said  it  was  not  possible  to 
suit  every  one ;  many  gentlemen  were  in 
favor  of  referring  the  bill  to  a  Committee  of 
the  Whole,  and  he  was  among  the  number. 
There  was  one  feature  of  the  bill  on  which 
there  was  a  great  diversity  of  opinion,  and 


that  must  be  settled  before  the  bill  could  In- 
definitely acted  upon.  There  was  no  dan- 
ger that  on  so  interesting  a  subject  the 
House  would  be  thin.  In  case  the  bill  was 
presented  to  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  it 
would  not  necessarily  be  discussed  over 
twice,  as,  if  the  principle  were  settled,  the 
remaining  provisions  of  the  bill  were  mere- 
ly necessary  details.  Gentlemen  who  had 
anything  to  say,  would  express  themselves 
at  one  time  or  another.  He  should  therefore 
prefer  that  the  bill  should  go  to  a  Committee 
of  the  Whole. 

Mr.  Witcher  argued  that  the  bill  had  bet- 
ter be  brought  before  the  House  at  once,  and 
the  principle  could  there  be  decided  on  ;  and 
the  subject  could  be  referred  back  to  the 
committee  which  brought  it  in,  with  instruc- 
tions to  bring  in  a  bill  conformably  to  the 
decisions  of  the  House. 

Mr.  Carter  of  P.  W.  hoped  the  motion 
would  not  be  withdrawn.  He  should  sup- 
pose that  this  question  would  not  be  liable 
to  the  objection  of  the  gentleman  from  Pitt- 
sylvania,  as  its  importance  would  insure  a 
full  attendance.  It  was  only  less  important 
than  the  question  which  had  already  been 
discussed.  If  it  were  on  the  score  of  econ- 
omy, it  was  hardly  applicable  to  a  compre- 
hensive plan  like  this.  He  had  heard  it 
said,  and  he  thought  with  justice,  that  the 
Legislature  of  Virginia  often  squandered 
both  time  and  money  in  attempting  to  get  at 
the  most  economical  way  of  doing  things. — 
He  hoped  it  would  not  be  so  in  the  present 
case. 

Mr.  Witcher  said  he  wished,  if  this  ques- 
tion went  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole, 
that  the  House  would  mark  whether  he  or 
the  other  gentlemen  were  in  the  right. 

The  question  on  referring  to  the  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  was  decided  in  the  affirm- 
ative, and  the  bill  was  made  the  order  of  the 
day  for  Monday  next. 

MONDAY,  February  6,  1832. 
REMOVAL  OF  FREE  NEGROES. 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Brodnax,  the  order  oi' 
the  day  being  a  bill  to  provide  for  the  remo- 
val of  the  free  coloured  population  from  this 
Commonwealth,  was  taken  up,  and  the  House 
resolved    itself    into   a   Committee    of    the 
Whole,  Mr.  Millar  in  the  Chair. 


44 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


Mr.  Brodnax  said  that  the  main  question 
presented  to  the  committee  was  the  princi- 
ple embraced  in  the  first  section  of  the 
biH,  whether  the  removal  of  this  class  of 
persons  should  be  compulsory  or  not.  He 
hoped,  therefore,  that  some  gentleman,  op- 
posed to  a  compulsory  measure,  would  move 
to  amend  that  section,  and  thus  bring  the 
question  at  once  before  the  committee. 

The  following  is  the  first  section  of  the 
bill: 

Be  it  enacted,  8fc.  That  all  persons  of  co- 
lour within  the  Commonwealth,  who  are  now 
free,  or  who  may  hereafter  become  free 
therein,  shall,  in  the  manner,  in  the  order, 
under  the  limitations,  and  with  the  excep- 
tions hereinafter  provided,  be  removed  from 
this  State  to  Liberia,  or  such  place  or  places, 
on  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  as  may  be 
approved  and  designated  by  the  Central 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  the  removal  of 
free  persons  of  color,  hereinafter  constitut- 
ed :  or  to  such  other  place  or  places  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  United  States,  as  may  by 
law  hereafter  be  designated  ;  and  after  such 
removal,  shall  be  supported,  in  cases  of  in- 
dividuals destitute  of  the  means  beyond  an 
extent  hereinafter  defined,  at  the  expense  of 
the  State,  for  such  reasonable  periods  of 
time,  and  to  such  amount,  as  hereinafter 
specified  and  provided. 

Mr.  Campbell  of  Brooke  moved  to  amend 
that  section,  by  adding  after  the  word  '  shall' 
in  the  third  line,  these  words,  "  with  their 
own  consent." 

Mr.  Brodnax  opposed  the  amendment  at 
considerable  length.  Mr.  Marshall  express- 
ed himself  opposed  to  the  compulsory  fea 
ture  of  the  bill.  Mr.  Fisher  opposed  the 
amendment.  Mr.  B.  of  G.  was  in  favor  ol 
the  principle  of  the  amendment,  and  after 
some  conversation  between  him  and  Mr 
Campbell  of  Brooke,  and  further  discussion, 
in  which  Messrs.  Marshall,  Carber  of  P.  W., 
Brodnax,  Chandler  and  Bryce  took  part,  the 
latter  moved  to  amend  the  amendment,  so 
as  to  remove  the  compulsory  operation  ol 
the  bill  from  those  only  who  are  now  free 
and  entitled  by  law  to  remain  in  the  State, 
but  to  coerce  the  removal  of  such  as  are 
now  within  the  Commonwealth,  in  violation 
of  the  laws,  and  such  a?  may  become  free 
hereafter. 


After  some  further  debate,  the  amend- 
ment to  the  amendment  was  rejected,  and 
the  question  being  taken  on  Mr.  Campbell's 
motion  to  amend,  it  was  agreed  to — Ayes 
66,  Noes  42. 

Mr.  Witcher  moved  to  strike  out  the  first 
section  of  the  bill,  which  he  supported  with 
some  remarks- — rejected  :  when,  on  motion 
of  Mr.  Brodnax,  the  committee  rose  and  re- 
ported. 

The  question  then  recurred  in  the  House 
upon  the  adoption  of  the  amendment  of  the 
committee. 

Mr.  Bryce  moved  to  amend  the  amend- 
ment, so  as  to  provide  that  free  negroes  "en- 
titled by  laws  now  in  force  to  remain  in  this 
Commonwealth,  shall,  with  their  own  con- 
sent, and  all  such  who  are  not  no\v  allowed 
to  reside  hera,"  and  all  who  shall  hereafter 
become  free,  shall  be  removed,  Stc. 

Mr.  Morris  moved  the  indefinite  postpone- 
ment of  the  bill,  and  on  his  motion,  the  ayes 
and  noes  having  been  ordered,  the  vote  re- 
sulted in  the  negative,  as  follows : 

Ayes. — Messrs.  Campbell  of  Bedford, 
Spurlock,  Stephenson,  Hale  of  Franklin, 
Woods  of  Franklin,  Wood  of  Frederick, 
Snidow,  Hail  of  Grayson,  Bruce,  Poston, 
Johnson,  Graveley,  Street,  Goode  of  Meck- 
lenburg, Knox,  Billingsley,  Adams,  Witcher, 
Swanson,  Gilliland,  Zinn,  Hart,  Jessee,  Kil- 
gore,  Bare,' Carson,  Gillespie,  Morris — 28. 

Noes. — Messrs.  Banks,  (speaker,)  Grin- 
aids,  Wood  of  A.,  Randolph,  Booker,  Gar- 
land, McCue,  Brooke,  Cameron,  Faulkner, 
Goode  of  B.,  Anderson  of  B.,  Wilson  of  B., 
Campbell  of  B.,  Gholson,  Patteson  of  B. 
Boiling,  Rives,  Daniel,  Tod,  Halyburton, 
Patteson  of  Chesterfield,  Broadus,  Wilson  of 
Cumberland,  Brodnax,  Jones,  Ritchie,  Ball, 
Chilton,  Marshall,  Stillman,  Smith  of  Fred- 
erick, Smith  of  Gloucester,  Bryce,  Ers- 
kine,  Spencer,  Sims,  Carskadon,  Roane, 
Mullen,  Mays,  Jordan,  Shield,  Gallaher, 
Berry,  Summers,  Harwood,  Hooe,  Carter  of 
L.  and  R.,  Allen,  Hays,  Laweon,  Mcllheney. 
Cordell,  Caldwell,  Poindexter,  Hudgin.s 
Smith  of  Mason  and  Jackson,  Henry,  Vaw- 
ter,  Preston,  Webb,  Cabell,  Chandler,  Leigh, 
Fisher,  Harvey,  Fitzhugh,  Parriott,  Robert- 
son, Hiner,  Miller,  Dupuy,  Land,  Shand*. 
Carter  of  Prince  William,  Moore,  McDow- 
ell, McMahon,  Cline,  Cobb,  Powell.  MOD- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


45 


cure,  Crump,  Hargrave,  McCoy,  McCulloch, 
Keller,  Newton,  Crockett,  King,  Brown  and 
Rutherfoord— 94. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Brodnax,  the  bill  and 
amendments  were  laid  on  the  table. 

TUESDAY,  February  7,  1832. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Marshall,  the  bill  pro- 
viding for  the  removal  of  the  free  people  of 
color  from  this  Commonwealth,  was  taken 
up,  with  the  amendment  adopted  in  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  and  the  amendment  to 
that  amendment  offered  3'esterday  by  Mr. 
Bryce  of  G. 

Mr.  Miller  moved  that  the  bill  be  recom- 
mitted to  the  committee  which  brought  it  in, 
with  instruction  so  to  amend  the  same  as  to 
provide  for  the  gradual  removal  of  the  free 
people  of  color  beyond  the  limits  of  this 
Commonwealth  :  First,  of  those  who  are  en- 
titled by  the  present  laws  to  remain,  but  who 
are  willing  to  remove ;  secondly,  of  those 
who  may  be  manumitted  by  their  masters 
for  the  purpose  of  removal ;  and  that  the 
committee  further  provide  that  such  free 
people  of  colour  as  are  now  residing  in  the 
different  counties  of  this  Commonwealth 
contrary  to  law,  and  are  not  willing  to  re- 
move beyond  its  limits,  shall  be  hired  out 
until  a  sufficient  sum  be  raised  by  the  hire  of 
each  to  remove  him  or  her  out  of  this  Com- 
monwealth. 

A  long  discussion  took  place  on  this  mo- 
tion, in  which  Messrs.  Miller,  Bryce  of  G., 
Marshall,  Brodnax  and  Brown,  on  whose 
motion  it  was  laid  on  the  table. 

Discussion  then  arose  on  the  amendment 
to  the  amendment  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Whole,  proposed  by  Mr.  Bryce  of  G.,  (as 
reported  yesterday,)in  which  Messrs.  Brown, 
Bryce,  Campbell  of  Brooke,  Jones,  Brodnax, 
Williams  and  McDowell  took  part,  when  the 
question  being  put,  Mr.  B.'s  amendment  was 
rejected — Ayes  49,  noes  77. 

The  question  then  recurring  on  the  amend- 
ment of  the  Committee  of  the  Whole,  after 
considerable  debate,  in  which  Messrs.  Ghol- 
son,  Wood  of  Albemarle,  and  Witch er  took 
part,  the  ayes  and  noes  were  ordered,  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Roane,  and  the  vote  was  as 
follows  ; 

Ayes.— Messrs.  Drummond,  Randolph, 
Persinger,  McCue,  Brooke,  Cameron,  Camp- 
bell of  Bedford,  Pate,  Goode  of  Berkeley, 


Campbell  of  Brooke,  Gholson,  Patteson  of 
Buckingham,  Spurlock,  Rives,  Daniel,  Jr., 
Patteson  of  Chesterfield,  Ball,  Chilton,  Mar- 
shall, Stephenson,  Stillman,  Hale  of  Frank- 
lin, Wood  of  Fred.,  Bryce  of  Fred.,  Bryce 
of  Gooch.,  Erskine,  Sims,  Carskadon,  Pos- 
ton,  Mullen,  Johnson,  Gallaher,  Berry,  Sum- 
mers, Allen,  Hays,  Lawson,  Mcllhaney, 
Cordell,  Caldwell,  Smith  of  Mason  and  Jack- 
son, Billingsly,  Henry,  Vawter,  Preston, 
Webb,  Cabell,  Leigh,  Parriott,  Robertson, 
Hiner,  Gilliland,  Miller,  Zinn,  Dupuy,  Land, 
Carter  of  P.  Wm.,  Hart,  McDowell,  McMa- 
hon,  Cline,  Jessee,  Bare,  Carson,  Cobb, 
Powell,  Gillespie,  McCoy,  Keller,  Newton, 
King— 71. 

Noes. — Messrs.  Banks  (Speaker)  Grinalds, 
Wood  of  Albermarle,  Booker,  Garland, 
Faulkner,  Anderson  of  Botetourt,  Wilson  of 
Botetourt,  Boiling,  Dickinson,  Halyburton, 
Richardson,  Pendleton,  Broaders,  Wilson  of 
Cumberland,  Brodnax,  Jones,  Ritchie,  Helms, 
Woods  of  Frederick,  Smith  of  Frederick, 
Snidow,  Smith  of  Glou.,  Hail  of  Grayson, 
Spencer,  Bruce,  Roane,  Williams,  Gravely, 
Jordan,  Shield,  Harwood,  Hooe,  Dabney, 
Poindexter,  Street,  Goode  of  Meek.,  Chan- 
dler, Fisher,  Harvey,  Davis,  Adams,  Witch- 
er,  Swanson,  Shands,  Moore,  Kilgore,  Mon- 
cure,  Crump,  Hargrave,  Morris,  Crockett, 
Brown,  Rutherfoord — 54. 

The  amendment  adopted  makes  the  first 
|  section  of  the  bill  read  as  follows  :     "  That 
|  all  persons  of  colour  within  this  Common- 
wealth, who  are  now  free,  shall,  with  Ufeir 
own  consent,  in  the  manner,  in  the  order, 
&c,"  be  removed  from  this  State 4o  Liberia, 
&c. 

Mr.  Williams  moved  to  amend  the  13th. 
section  of  the  bill,  by  appending  to  it  the 
i  following :  "  and  that  the  sums  to  be  appro- 
;  priated  for  the  removal  of  said  free  persons 
i  of  colour  shall  be  levied  on  slaves  and  free 
;  negroes."  Rejected. 

The  motion  of  Mr.  Miller  to  recommit, 
|  &c.,  (above  cited)  was  then  taken  up  and 
'  agreed  to.  Ayes  83,  Noes  40. 

WEDNESDAY,  February  \5th.  1832, 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Brodnax,  the  substitute 
j  for  the  bill  providing  for  the  removal  of  free 
j  persons  of  colour  from  this  Commonwealth, 
I  was  taken  up.  (A  long  and  animated  de- 
jbate  took  place  on  the  various  amendments 


4t> 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


proposed,  of  which  we  can  give  only  a 
brief  glance  at  the  principal  points.) 

Mr.  Wilson  of  B.  moved  to  amend  the 
substitute  by  striking  out  the  words  '•  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars,"  from  the  10th 
section,  (the  appropriation  for  1833)  and  to 
insert  instead,  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Mr. 
W.  thought  that  if  the  appropriation  was  so 
large,  it  would  go  in  advance  of  public  sen- 
timent. It  was  better  to  appropriate  50,000 
dollars  for  1833,  and  the  same  sum  for  each 
year  thereafter. 

Mr.  Bryce  proposed  the  division  of  the 
question  so  as  to  decide  first  upon  striking 
out,  which  was  acceded  to  by  Mr.  Wilson. 

Mr.  Brodnax  had  no  objection  to  the  mo- 
tion, as  a  test  whether  the  House  was  in 
earnest  as  to  the  measure.  But  to  fill  the 
blank  with  a  smaller  sum,  would  be  to  des- 
troy the  bill. 

Mr.  Wilson  of  B.  defended  his  motion. 
If  too  large  an  appropriation  was  made, 
propositions  would  probably  be  made  next 
year  to  repeal  the  act  altogether.  It  was 
better  to  effect  the  object  by  degrees. 

Mr.  Campbell  of  Brooke  thought  public 
sentiment  was  in  favor  of  efficient  action. 
The  additional  taxation  required  would  be 
but  trifling,  and  would  not  demand  that  the 
taxes  should  be  higher  than  they  were  pre- 
vious to  last  year. 

Mr.  Bryce  of  G.  supported  the  motion. 
He  believed  it  was  the  object  of  the  bill  to 
remove  the  free  negroes  to  Liberia.  If  so,  a 
large  sum  would  not  be  required,  as  he  was 
informed  that  the  Colony  could  not  receive 
a  larger  number  than  30  or  $40,000  would 
remove  this  year,  and  50  or  $60,000  after- 
wards. 

Mr.  Daniel  was  in  favor  of  the  removal ; 
but  the  House  was  not  sufficiently  directed 
by  the  people  to  authorize  the  levying  of 
heavy  taxes  for  this  object.  It  ought  to  be 
deferred  until  next  year.  He  was  therefore 
in  favour  of  striking  out. 

The  motion  was  then  agreed  to. 

Mr.  Crockett  moved  to  fill  the  blank  with 
$90,000.  He  thought  the  original  sum  was 
not  too  much.  He  believed  the  gentleman 
from  Botetourt  was  mistaken  as  to  the  course 
of  public  sentiment,  and  that  this  measure 
ought  to  be  made  effectual. 

Mr.    Preston   said   that   he    should    vote 


against  the  proposition,  and  should  also 
move  to  strike  out  the  provision  for  an  an- 
nual appropriation  of  $200,000  after  1833. 
Future  Legislature  ought  not  to  be  pledged 
by  this  act,  and  a  small  sum  ought  to  be  ap- 
propriated until  it  was  ascertained  what 
amount  would  be  required.  He  did  not 
know  that  his  constituents  would  agree  to 
the  taxation  of  all  description  of  property 
for  this  object.  If  he  should  represent  them 
next  year,  he  should  know  their  views  and 
could  act  accordingly. 

Mr.  Marshall  said  that  there  was  a  blank 
for  the  sum  to  be  appropriated  this  year,  and 
the  sum  for  1833  would  be  perfectly  under 
the  control  of  the  next  year's  Legislature. 
They  could  reduce  it  if  too  large.  He  thought 
with  the  gentleman  from  Montgomery,  that 
the  sum  of  $200,000  for  after  years  ought 
to  be  struck  out  and  left  blank.  An  appro- 
priation for  1833  was  necessary  to  carry  out 
the  plan. 

Mr.  Carter  of  P.  W.  said,  if  less  than 
$90,000  was  inserted,  it  would  nullify  the 
bill.  A  friend  of  his  had  said  the  other 
day,  that  he  was  friendly  to  the  measure,  if 
he  could  be  assured  that  all  the  free  negroes 
would  be  removed ;  but  he  was  opposed  to 
the  removal  of  a  part.  Mr.  C.  observed 
that  this  was  an  experiment  and  if  it  suc- 
ceeded, the  whole  would  be  removed. 

Mr.  Preston  thought  the  very  argument  of 
the  gentleman  from  P.  W.  afforded  reasons 
for  confining  the  appropriation  to  a  small 
amount.  This  was,  as  was  said  by  that  gen- 
tleman, merely  an  experiment,  and  until  it 
had  been  tested,  the  State  ought  not  to  em- 
bark too  deeply  in  it. 

Mr.  Brodnax  said,  that  the  plan  could  not 
be  effected  without  means.  He  thought 
that  gentlemen  did  not  act  consistently,  who 
had  opposed  the  coercive  plan,  upon  the 
supposition,  that  sufficient  numbers  would  be 
willing  to  go,  aud  now  wished  to  deny  the 
means  of  deporting  those  who  should  be 
willing.  It  was  not  proposed  to  send  them 
to  Liberia  alone,  as  other  places  were  con- 
templated. All  that  was  wanted  was  money, 
the  lever  which  Archimides  wanted  to  lift 
the  world.  The  taxes  required  would  not  be 
too  heavy.  Mr.  B.  made  some  statements 
by  which  he  computed,  that  about  15  cents 
on  each  freeholder  would  compass  the  whole 


The  Virginian  History  of  Jlfncan  Colonization. 


47 


amount.  He  believed  the  people  were  in 
favour  of  the  measure,  and  would  not  re- 
fuse to  supply  the  means. 

Mr.  Wilson  of  B.  made  some  explanations 
and  opposed  the  motion  of  Mr.  Crockett. 

Mr.  Campbell  of  Brooke  expressed  a  be- 
lief that  the  people  would  sustain  the  mea- 
sure. He  illustrated  the  position  that  the 
additional  taxation  required  for  this  object 
would  not  be  heavily  felt, — it  would  be  in 
the  ratio  of  2  cents  addition  on  a  horse.  He 
wished  this  measure  to  be  the  stepping  stone 
to-n  greater  object. 

Mr.  Bryce  asked  what  was  to  be  done 
with  $90,000  if  it  were  appropriated.  He 
replied  to  the  remark  of  Mr.  Brodnax  as  to 
the  consistency  of  those  who  wished  to  re- 
duce the  amount.  He  did  not  think  coer- 
cion necessary,  nor  did  he  think  $100,000 
necessary.  He  thought  the  statement  of  the 
gentleman  from  P.  W.,  that  this  was  an  ex- 
periment, correct,  and  he  therefore  argued 
that  the  appropriation  need  not  be  so  large 
as  was  proposed. 

Mr.  Brodnax  rejoined. 
Mr.  Carter  of  P.  W..  explained  his  previ- 
ous remarks.  He  had  said  that  this  was  to 
be  an  experiment,  but  it  would  be  to  insure 
its  failure,  to  refuse  sufficient  means.  If  the 
whole  amount  appropriated  was  not  needed, 
the  surplus  would  remain  in  the  Treasury. 
Mr.  Crockett  said  that  they  had  gone  on 
thus  far,  without  a  formal  consultation  of 
public  opinion,  and  he  believed  in  accor- 
dance with  the  wishes  of  the  people;  nor 
did  he  think  they  would  complain  at  the  ne- 
cessary appropriations. 

Mr.  Boiling  stated  many  considerations 
on  which  they  ought  to  remove  the  free  ne- 
groes. Ample,  means  for  the  object  ought 
to  be  provided.  He  felt  chagrined  that  gen- 
tlemen who  had  warmly  advocated  a  much 
greater  enterprise  should  now  recoil  at  this 
comparatively  trifling  measure. 

Mr.  Preston  rejoined,  and  some  explana- 
tions took  place  between  Messrs.  Boiling  and 
Preston. 

Mr.  Witcher  had  heard  the  gentleman 
from  Goochland  ask  how  $90,000  were  to 
be  expended— and  Mr.  W.  asked  how  $60, 
000  were  to  be  applied,  and  how  much  the 
agents,  who  were  to  be  appointed  to  go 


through  the  country  and  preach  up   the  re- 
moval, were  to  be  paid. 

Mr.  Bryce  of  G.  said  he  had  been  informed 
that  the  Colony  at  Liberia  could  not  receive 
over  600  individuals  this  year,  and  double 
that  number  next  year. 

Mr.  Marshall  said  he  had  been  informed 
that  1000  could  be  received  this  year,  2000 
next  year,  and  3000  the  year  after. 

Mr.  Bryce  said  he  believed  the  numbers 
stated  by  the  gentleman  from  Fauquier  in- 
cluded the  whole  number  from  the  United 
States.  Mr.  B's  statement  included  only 
those  which  could  be  received  from  Vir- 
ginia. He  could  not  say  what  would  be 
the  compensation  of  agents  ;  but  he  believed 
those  attached  to  the  Colonization  Society 
would  receive  nothing.  Mr.  B.  considered 
the  computation  of  $35,  per  capita  for  de- 
portation &c.,  too  small. 

Mr.  Marshall  said  that  the  computation  of 
the  gentleman  from  Goochland  was  founded 
upon  the  consideration  of  the  capacity  of  the 
colony  to  receive  emigrants  in  its  present 
condition  ;  but  if  the  State  of  Virginia  en- 
tered into  this  measure,  its  means  would  at 
once  be  increased.  Whatever  sum  was  ap- 
propriated, it  was  absolutely  necessary  that 
provision  should  be  made  for  the  protection 
of  the  colonists  against  the  sun  and  rain  after 
their  arrival.  He  believed  that  $35,  would 
be  amply  sufficient  for  each  emigrant.  If 
Virginia  joined  in  aid  of  the  Society,  there 
was  no  knowing  how  much  money  would  be 
usefully  employed.  For  this  reason,  he 
wished  that  the  sum  of  $90,000  might  be  in- 
serted. 

Mr.  Summers  should  vote  for  the  motion 
of  the  gentleman  from  Wythe.  He  shou'd 
have  voted  for  one  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  indeed  for  a  larger  sum.  He  held 
it  expedient,  in  commencing  such  a  plan,  that 
ample  means  should  be  provided.  The  ob- 
ject was  not  only  to  remove  free  negroes, 
but  to  encourage  manumission  throughout 
the  United  States,  and  pave  the  way  to  the 
ultimate  removal  of  Ihe  slaves  themselves, 
i  In  commencing  such  a  scheme,  Virginia 
should  shew  to  the  world  she  was  now  in 
1  earnest.  She  should  not  put  her  foot  into 
the  water  and  draw  back  again,  but  launch 
forth  with  boldness  and  energy.  Ho  believed 
there  was  no  want  of  persons  who  were 


Tkc  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


willing  to  go,  and  he  was  of  opinion  that  a  I  Mr.  Brodnax  warned  gentlemen,  if  they 
sufficient  number  of  Colonists  could  be  ob-' pressed  this  motion,  that  it  would  jeopardise 
tained  from  this  city,  to  absorb  the  whole  '  the  bill.  He  did  not  agree  with  the  gentle- 
$90,000.  ;  man  from  Brunswick,  that  the  emancipator 

The  question  being  then  taken  upon  Mr. ;  would  generally  be  able  to  pay  for  their  de- 
Crockett's  motion,  it  was  decided  in  the  af- jportation.  There  were  many  who  would 
firmative.  manumit  their  slaves,  if  means  for  their  re- 


Ayes  67,  Noes  54. 


moval  were  furnished  by  the  State,  but  who 


Mr.   Brown  moved  to  amend  the  bill  by  j  could  not,  with  the  additional  burthen  of  re- 
striking  out  the  5th.  and  7th.  sections  which  \  moval.     He  hoped  the  gentleman  would  not 
provide  for  the  removal  of  slaves  manumit-  j  press  the  amendment,    or  that  the   House 
ted  by  their  masters,  without  a  provision  for '  would  object  it. 
their  removal.     He  was  in  favor  of  remo-       The  motion  to  amend  was  then  decided  in 


ving  all  the  free  negroes,  but  when  it  was 
considered  that  the  whole  of  our  disposable 


the  negative.     Ayes  41,  Noes  60. 

Mr.  Goode  moved  to  strike  from  the  10th. 


funds  would  be  absorbed  for  the  next  ten  section,  after  the  appropriation  for  1833,  the 
years,  by  the  removal  of  those  already  free,  I  provision  for  $200,000  annually  thereafter.. 
he  was  opposed  to  increasing  the  class^  by  ;  which  was  assented  toby  Mr.  Marshall  and 


allowing  owners   to   manumit   their   slaves 
with  no  provision  made  for  their  removal. 


Mr.  Brown  went  at  length  into  various  rea 
sons  for  his  motion. 


Mr.  Brodnax,  who  said  that  this  sum  was  in- 
serted by  the  Committee  to  carry  out  their 


plan  ;  but  as  that  plan  had  been  deranged  by 
previous  amendments,   he   should    vote  for 
Mr.   Campbell  of  Brooke  hoped  the  mo- j  this  motion.     Agreed  to. 
tion  would  not  prevail.     If  it  did,  unless  he ;      Mr.  Marshall  moved  to  fill   the  blank  in 
were  convinced  of  its  expediency  by  future  the  10th.  section,  for  an  appropriation  for  the 
reasoning,  he  should  go  against  the  whole  present  year,  with  $35,000,  as  he  had  been 
bill.     To  strike  out  these  provisions  would  told  by  the  gentleman  at  the  head  of  the 


have  the  effect  entirely  to  prevent  manumis- 
sion. 

Mr.  Marshall  said  that  the  bill  provided 
that  no  slave  should  be  manumitted  without 
immediate  measures  taken  for  his  deporta- 
tion. To  strike  out  these  sections  would 
have  the  effect  to  discourage  manumission 
with  deportation.  If  manumitted  without 
the  means  of  removal,  it  was  declared  that 
they  should  be  hired  out  until  the  sum 
should  have  been  raised.  In  no  case  were 
they  to  remain  as  freemen  in  the  State. 

Mr.  Gholson  supported  at  considerable 
length  the  motion  of  Mr.  Brown.  It  was  in- 
tended to  make  it  incumbent  on  those,  who 
emancipated  their  slaves,  to  provide  means- 
for  their  removal,  and  to  do  away  the  hiring 
out  by  the  public  agents.  It  would  be  fai 
better  foi  \*.  master,  when  he  determined 
to  manumi.  uis  slave,  to  retain  him  for  a 
time  sufficient  to  raise  from  his  labour  the 
sum  required  for  his  deportation.  Thi.- 
would  cause  them  to  be  removed  immediately 
on  becoming  free.  In  most  instances,  the 
emancipator  was  able  to  pay  for  their  remo- 
rnoval. 


Committee  of  Finance,  that  a  surplus  of 
Ihat  amount  was  in  the  Treasury,  and  could 
,be  appropriated  without  resorting  to  taxation. 

Mr.  Bryce  of  G.,  (Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Finance)  said  that  the  sum  could 
be  appropriated,  and  he  believed  it  would  be 
amply  sufficient  for  the  present  year.  A  greed 
to. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Bryce  of  G.,  a  blank  in 
the  10th.  section,  providing  a  sum  for  the 
erection  of  places  of  shelter  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  colonists  at  Liberia,  was  filled 
with  10,000  dollars.  (This  is  part  of  the 
35,000  dollars  and  not  extra  appropriation. 

The  motion  to  amend  was  adopted. 

An  amendment  was  also  adopted  leav- 
in°-  the  sum  to  be  paid  for  the  deportation  of 
each  colonist  discretionary  with  the  Central 
Board  of  Commissioners — and  a  motion  of 
Mr.  Witcher  to  strike  out  the  clause,  em- 
powering the  Board  to  pay  a  reasonable  com- 
pensation to  agents  Stc.,  was  rejected. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Bryce  of  G.,  the  fir.st 
section  was  amended,  by  striking  out  after 
the  word  "removed"  these  words,  "to  Li- 
beria or  such  other  place  or  places  on  the 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


Western  Coast  of  Africa,"  and  inserting  in 
their  stead  these  words:  "beyond  the  lim- 
its of  the  United  States,  to  such  places  as 
may  be  approved  and  designated  by  the 
Central  Board,"  Sec,  so  as  to  make  the  choice 
of  places  to  which  they  shall  be  sent,  dis- 
cretionary with  the  Board. 

Various  other  amendments  of  minor  im- 
portance were  adopted,  when  the  substitute 
as  amended,  was  agreed  to,  and  ordered  to 
be  engrossed  for  a  third  reading. 

THURSDAY.  February  16th,  1832. 

The  engrossed  bill  to  provide  for  the  re- 
moval of  free  persons  of  colour  from  this 
Commonwealth  was  read  a  third  time  ;  and 
the  Ayes  and  Noes  having  been  ordered,  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Helms,  it  was  passed  by  the 
following  vote  : 

Ayes.  Messrs.  Banks  (Speaker)  Grinalds, 
Randolph,  Booker,  Garland,  McCue,  Brooke, 
Cameron,  Campbell  of  B.,  Pate,  Anderson 
of  B.,  Wilson  of  B.,  Campbell  of  B.,  Ghol- 
son,  Shell,  Patteson  of  B.,  Boiling.  Daniel, 
Dickinson,  Halyburton,  Patteson  of  C.,  Wil- 
son of  C.,  Jones,  Ritchie,  Ball,  Marshall, 
Stillman,  Wood  of  F.;  Bryce  of  F.,  Smith  of 
F.,  Smith  of  G.,  Bryce  of  G.,  Erskine,  Spen- 
cer, Sims,  Roane,  Jordan,  Shield,  Gallaher, 
Berry,  Summers,  Harwood,  Carter  of  S.  and 
R.,  Allen,  Hays,  Lawson,  McIIhaney,  Cor- 
dell,  Caldwell,  Poindexter,  Hudgings,  Smith 
of  M.  and  J.,  Vawter,  Preston,  Webb,  Chan- 
dler, Leigh,  Fisher,  Harvey,  Parriott,  Rob- 
ertson, Miller,  Dupuy,  Land,  Shands,  Carter 
of  P.  W.,  McDowell,  McMahon,  Cobb,  Pow- 
ell, Moncure,  Hargrave,  Keller,  Newton, 
Crockett,  King,  Rutherfoord,  Rives,  Brod- 
nax,  79. 

Noes. — Messrs.    Parsinger,    Good   of  B., 
Spurlock,    Richardson,    Pendleton    of    C., 
Broadus,    Chilton,  Stephenson,  Helms,  Hale 
of  F.,  Snidow,  Hail  of  G.,   Bruce,   Carska- 
don,    Poston,    Mullen,    Johnson,    Graveley, 
Street,  Goode  of  M.,  Knox,  Billingsly,  Hen- 
ry, Byrne,  Fitzhugh,  Davi.s,  Adams,    Hiner,  I 
Witcher,  Swanson,   Gilliland,   Zinn,   Clinej 
Jesse,  Kilgore,  Bare,  Carson.  Gillespie,  Me' 
Coy,  McCullock,  41. 


AN  ACT, 

Providing  for  the  removal  of  free  person*  of 

colour  from  this  Commojiwealth. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly, 
that  such  of  the  free  persons  of  colour  in 
this  Commonwealth,  as  shall  hereinafter  be 
designated  and  classified  for  the  purpose, 
shall,  in  the  manner,  in  the  order,  and  under 
the  regulation  hereinafter  provided,  he  re- 
moved from  Virginia  to  Liberia,  or  to  such 
other  place  or  places  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  United  States,  as  may  be  approved  and 
designated  by  the  Central  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners hereinafter  constituted  ;  and  suppor- 
ted for  such  reasonable  time,  and  to  such 
amount,  as  hereinafter  -specified  and  provi- 
ded at  the  expense  of  the  State. 

2.  For   the   purpose  of  supervising   and 
regulating  the  necessary  arrangements  and 
operations  for  effecting  the  objects  of  this  act, 
the  Governor,  the  members  of  the   Council 
of  State,  and  the  Treasurer,  for  the  time  be- 
ing, shall  be,  and  they  arc  hereby  constitu- 
ted ex-offices,  a  Board  of  Commissioners,  to 
be   called   and    designated    "  The    Central 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  the  removal  of 
free  persons  of  colour,"  of  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor shall  be  President,  and  any  three  of 
whom  shall  be  a  quorum,  with  power  and 
authority  to  discharge  and  perform  any  or 
all  of  the  duties  prescribed  by  this   act,  or 
which   may   hereafter   be   assigned   lo   the 
Board  by  law. 

3.  The  said  Central  Board  of  Commission- 
ers shall  have  power  and  authority  to  ap- 
point and  employ   agents  resident  in  Nor- 
folk, Richmond,  Petersburg,  or  other  conve- 
nient places  in  the  State,  as  they  may  find  it 
convenient  and  necessary,  for  the  purpose  of 
chartering  vessels,  procuring  necessary  sup- 
plies, collecting  and  shipping  emigrants,  su- 
perintending   their    embarkation,    selecting 
among  a  superabundant  number  of  applicants 
for   transportation    the   proper   descriptions 
and  classes  of  those  to  be  preferred ;  or  per- 
forming any  other  duties,   deemed  by  the 
said  Board  essential  to  effect  the  objects  of 
this  act.     And  the  said   Central   Board  of 
commissioners  shall   have  power,  either  di- 
rectly, or  through  their  agents,  to  contract  on 
the  part  of  the   State  with   any  individual, 
company  or  society,  lor  the  transportation  of 
the   said  free  persons  of  colour,  or  any  of. 


50 


The  Virginian  Hittory  of  African  Colonization. 


them,  and  their  temporary  support  thereaf- 
ter, as  hereinafter  provided,  and  by  their  or- 
der to  draw  from  the  public  treasury,  to  be 
audited  and  paid,  as  other  public  expendi- 
ture* are  now  required  by  law  to  be  settled, 
ifcm  time  to  time,  as  the  purpose*  of  this 
act  may  render  it  necessary,  any  sum  or 
sums  of  money  not  exceeding  the  annual 
appropriation  by  law  for  the  then  current 
year  for  the  purposes  aforesaid.  And  the 
said  Board  of  Commissioners  shall  also  have 
power  to  prescribe  and  define,  in  orders  for 
that  purpose,  to  such  subordinate  agents,  the 
particular  duties  to  be  performed  by  either 
or  all  of  them,  and  require  such  returns  of 
the  manner  in  which  they  shall  have  res- 
pectively performed  their  duties,  as  the  said 
Board  may  deem  expedient.  And  the  said 
Commissioners,  or  their  agents,  shall  have 
power  to  require  and  take  from  any  person 
or  persons,  entrusted  with  money  or  goods 
for  any  purposes  prescribed  herein,  bonds 
under  such  penalties,  and  with  such  condi- 
tions and  securities,  as  they  may  deem  best 
calculated  to  enforce  the  due  execution  of 
the  trusts  confided  to  them.  And  the  said 
Board  of  Commissioners  shall  also  have  full 
power  and  authority  to  take  from  an  agent, 
or  agents,  to  whom  funds  are  confided,  or 
by  whom  other  duties  are  assumed,  bonds 
with  such  penalties,  conditions  and  securi- 
ties as  aforesaid,  as  they  may  deem  it  expe- 
dient to  require. 

4.  The  said  subordinate  agents  shall,  un- 
til provision  be  made  by  law  for  a  regular 
compensation  for  their  services,  receive  such 
amount  annually,  as  the  said  Central  Board 
fhall  deem  it  reasonable  and  just  to  allow, 
to  be  paid  on  their  order,  and  of  the  annual 
appropriations  hereinafter  provided. 

5-  In  effecting  the  removal  of  free  per- 
sons of  colour  as  aforesaid,  the  appropriation 
for  each  year  shall  be  exclusively  applied  in 
the  fir^t  instance,  to  the  removal  and  subse- 
quent temporary  tupport  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided, of  those  free  negroes  and  mulattoes, 
who  are  entitled  by  existing  laws  of  the  State 
to  remain  in  it,  but  who  voluntarily  consent 
to  remove,  and  apply  to  the  said  Central 
Board,  or  its  agent?,  for  the  means  of  trans- 
portation. The  next  class  which  shali  be 
preferred  for  deportation,  after  all  the  appli- 
cants cf  tbs  former  class  at  anv  time  shall 


have  been  provided  for,  shall  consist  of  such 
free  persons  of  colour,  as  are  now  residing 
in  the  Commonwealth  contrary  to  law,  but 
these  shall  in  like  manner  be  exhausted;  the 
next  class,  which  shall  be  selected,  shall 
consist  of  those  who  may  hereafter  be  man- 
umitted for  the  purpose,  but  for  whose  re- 
moval, the  former  owner  shall  have  made  no 
provision.  Those  negroes  and  mulattoes 
who  may  hereafter  be  emancipated  for  the 
purpose,  and  for  whose  removal  and  tempo- 
rary support  the  former  owner  shall  have  pro- 
vided sufficient  means,  and  those  who  not 
being  entitled  to  remain  in  the  State,  but  not 
consenting  to  remove,  shall  have  been  hired 
out  until  a  sufficient  sum  is  raised  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  their  removal,  and  subse- 
quent temporary  support  as  aforesaid,  as 
herein  provided,  shall  be  removed  by  the 
Board,  as  soon  as  they  may  find  it  practica- 
ble and  convenient. 

6.  Every  free  negro  and  mulatto,  hereto- 
fore emancipated,  and  now  remaining  in  this 
Commonwealth  contrary  to  law,  and  their 
descendants  so  remaining,  but  failing  to  con- 
sent to  be  transported,  as  aforesaid,  shall,  by 
order  of  the  Court  of  the  county  or  corpora- 
tion, in  which  they  or  any  of  them  may  be 
found,  be  hired  out  by  the  Sheriff,  Sergeant 
or  other  proper  officer,  for  such  time  as  will 
raisr  a  sum  sufficient  to  defray  the  amount 
of  expenses,  as  estimated,  from  time  to  time 
by  the  Central  Board  of  Commissioners,  ne- 
cessary for  his,  her,  or  their  transportation, 
and  subsequent  temporary  support  as  afore- 
said, provided  such  time  do  not  exceed  two 
years ;  and  the  amount  so  raised  shall  regu- 
i  larly,  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  said  Board 
of  Commissioners,  be  accounted  for  and  paid 
by  such  sheriffs,  Sergeants  or  other  officers, 
to  such  agent  or  agents  of  the  said  Board,  as 
may  be  appointed  to  receive  it.  with  a  state- 
ment of  the  names  of  the  individuals  from 
whose  hire  every  item  was  raised.  And 
every  sheriff,  Sergeant  or  other  officer,  who 
shall  fail  so  to  account  for  and  pay  such 
hire,  when  required  so  to  do,  by  the  said 
Central  Board,  or  any  authorized  agent,  shall 
forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dol- 
lars, to  be  recovered  on  motion,  after  ten 
days  notice  by  the  said  Board,  or  any  of  its 
agents,  for  the  use  of  the  Board,  before  any 
Court  of  record  within  whose  territorial  ju- 


The  Virginian,  History  of  African  Colonization* 


51 


risdiction  such  officer  shall  reside.  Every 
free  negro  and  mulatto,  who  shall  thus  have 
been  hired  for  two  years,  but  the  amount  of 
whose  hires  shall  not  be  equal  to  the  estima- 
ted expenses  of  transportation  and  subse- 
quent temporary  support  as  aforesaid  ;  and 
all  such  females  or  children,  as  would  not 
hire  for  any  amount,  or  whose  support  would 
be  chargeable,  shall  be  forthwith  removed  as 
aforesaid,  at  the  charge  of  the  Commonwealth, 
next  in  order  to  the  class  secondly  herein- 
before designated,  provided,  that  no  male 
above  the  age  of  forty  five  years,  or  female 
above  the  age  of  forty  years,  shall  be  trans- 
ported without  his  or  her  free  consent,  un- 
less the  court  of  the  count}-  or  corporation 
in  which  he  or  she  resides,  shall  order  his  oi- 
lier removal ;  and  provided  also,  that  no 
husband  and  wife  shall  be  separated,  though 
they  belong  to  different  classes  as  above  enu- 
merated, where  each  is  willing  to  be  re- 
moved ;  and  in  all  cases  where  parents  of 
any  age  are  transported,  their  children  un- 
der the  age  of  sixteen  if  males,  and  fourteen 
if  females,  shall  be  removed  with  them. 
And  the  said  Central  Board  of  Commission- 
ers shall  have  power,  directly,  or  through  its 
agents  as  aforesaid,  to  exercise  a  sound  and 
humane  discretion,  as  to  the  inclusion  or  ex- 
clusion of  any  particular  individuals,  in  any 
particular  shipment,  and  so  to  order  and  reg- 
ulate all  matters  connected  with  the  duties 
herein  prescribed,  as  may,  in  theirjudgment, 
be  best  calculated  to  effect  the  great  objects 
of  this  act. 

7.  And  when  any  free  persons  of  colour, 
belonging  to  the  third  class  above  enumera- 
ted, being  such  as  shall  have  been  hereafter 
emancipated  for  the  purpose  of  transporta- 
tion, but  for  whose  removal  the  former  own- 
er shall  have  made  no  provision,  cannot  be 
removed  by  the  said  Board  of  Commission- 
ers, or  their  agents,  by  reason  of  the  two 
previous  classes  entitled  to  preference  having 
consumed,  in  their  removal  and  subsequent 
temporary  support,  the  whole  sum  appropri- 
ated by  la\v  for  the  then  current  year,  the 
said  free  persons  of  colour  shall  then  be 
hirod  out,  in  the  same  manner,  and  by  the 
same  officer:;  us  heroin  before  provided,  and 
under  the  same  liabilities  and  accountabili- 
ties, for  such  time  not  exceeding  two  years, 
as  to  enable  the  hires,  together  with  anv  sub- 


sequent appropriation  at  the  disposal  of  the 
said  Commissioners,  not  pre-occupied  by 
previous  classes,  to  amount  to  a  sum  suffi- 
cient to  effect  the  removal  and  subsequent 
temporary  support  of  the  zsaid  free  persons  of 
colour ;  whereupon  the}-  shall  be  transported 
as  in  other  cases. 

8.  And  for  a  declaration  of  what  tempu- 
j  rary    support,    immediately   subsequent    to 
i  transportation,    shall   be    provided,    and  fin 

what  period  of  time  it  shall  be  continued  to 
the  emigrants  as  aforesaid :  Be  it  further 
j  enacted,  that  the  said  Central  Board  of  com- 
missioners, shall  have  authority  through 
their  agents  aforesaid,  or  any  of  them,  to 
furnish  either  to  the  emigrants  in  person,  or 
to  such  officer  or  other  person,  about  to  go 
with  the  said  emigrants,  and  for  their  tem- 
porary support  and  accommodation  on  their 
arrival  at  the  port  of  their  destination,  either 
money,  clothing,  food,  tools  of  trade,  or 
other  necessary  articles,  in  whole  or  in  part, 
deemed  more  useful  to  them,  to  such  an 
amount  as  the  said  Board  may  designate. 

9.  The  said  Board  shall  also  have  author- 
ity to  advance,  from   time  to  time,  out  of 
each  annual  appropriation,  any  sum  not  ex- 
ceeding ten   thousand   dollars,  for  the  erec- 
tion of  receptacles  or  temporary  shelters  for 
the  accommodation  and  comfort  of  the  emi- 
grants on  their  arrival  at  the  places  to  which 
they  shall  be  removed. 

10.  The  sums  of  money  hereinafter  appro- 
jpriated  shall  be  disbursed  under  the  authori- 
ty in  this  act  prescribed,  in  the  removal  and 
subsequent  temporary   support  an   aforesaid, 
of  as  many  free  persons  of  colour,  annually, 
having  due   regard  to  the  classification  a^ 
aforesaid,   as   can  for  those   amounts  be  so 

'transported  and  temporarily  supported.  And 

,  for  the   purpose  of  carrying  into  execution 

jthe  various  purposes  of  this  act,  the  sum  of 

;  thirty  five  thousand  dollars  shall  be,  and  the 

j  same  is  hereby  appropriated,  to  be  applied 

to  these  purposes  during  the   present  year, 

so  far,  as  in  the  opinion  of  the  said  Board  of 

'Commissioners,  the  same  can  be  judiciously 

I  applied  to  them  within  the  year.     The  sum 

of  ninety  thousand  dollars   ^hall  be,  and  thr 

.same  is  hereby  appropriated,  to  be  applied  tc 

I  these  purposes,  in  and  for  the  y«arone  thou- 

!  sand  eight  hundred  and  thirty  three.     And 

;  if  in  the  opinion  of  the  siid   Board  oi   t'cm- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


missioners,  the  sum  appropriated,  for  any 
given  year,  cannot  judiciously  and  advanta- 
geously be  used  and  applied  during  the  year 
to  the  objects  aforesaid,  or  if  any  portion 
thereof  shall  from  any  cause  remain  unex- 
pended in  any  one  year,  the  unexpended 
balance  shall  be  carried  forward  as  an  addi- 
tion to,  and  liable  to  disbursement,  with  the 
appropriation  of  the  succeeding  year. 

This  act  shall  commence  and  be  in  force 
from  and  after  the  passage  thereof. 

SENATE  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Feb.  21.  Mr.  Dromgoole  reported  that  the 
committee  had  considered  the  bill  providing 
for  the  removal  of  free  persons  of  color  and 
made  an  amendment  thereto. 

Feb.  27/A.  The  bill  was  taken  up  and  a 
substitute  proposed  by  Mr.  Morgan  and  also 
ainendmentsby  Messrs.  Dromgoole  and  Hun- 
ton,  of  which  185  copies  were  ordered  to  be 
printed.  Substitue. 

March  5th.  Mr.  Booker  moved  the  inde- 
finite postponement  of  the  bill.  Upon  this 
motion  the  ayes  and  noes  were  demanded. 

./lyes.     Thorn.  Campbell,  Nat.  Alexander, 
Geo.  Booker,  Jos.  Wyatt,  E.  Pnyd.  G 
Cowan  and  Jes.  Edgington. 

j\oes.  W.  C.  Holt  (Speaker,)  S.  H.  Par- 
ker, Ch.  Cocke,  Ch.  Hunton,  D.  W.  Patter- 
.-:oi'.,  J.  Pennybacher,  C.  S.  Morgan,  F.  E. 
Rives,  J.  G.  Joynes,  L.  T.  Bade,  H.  L.  Opie, 
D.  McComas,  A.  Beirne,  J.  B.  Harvie,  W. 
Basye,  J.  Cravens,  J.  M.  Whoster,  Geo.  C. 
Dromgoole,  Win.  Armistead,  H.  G.  Winston, 
Wm.  M.  McCarty,  C.  Bealo  and  Wm  Mc- 
Comas. 

Mr.  Dromgoole  moved  to  amend  the  5th 
section  of  said  bill  by  striking  out  the  fol- 
lowing words  :  "When  these  shall  in  like 
manner  be  executed,  the  next  class  which 
shall  be  selected  shall  consist  of  those  who 
.'-hall  hereafter  be  manumitted  for  the  pur- 
pose, but  for  whose  removal  the  former  own- 
er shall  have  made  no  provision."  Disagreed 
to  by  equal  division,  ayes  15,  noes  15.  Mr. 
Dromgoole  moved  to  amend  the  5th  section 
by  striking  out  the  following  words,  ::  Who 
may  hereafter  be  emancipated  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  for  whose  removal  and  temporary 
subsequent  support  the  former  owner  shall 
have  provided  .sufficient  mean.-;.  Disagreed 
to,  ayes  15,  noes  17.  Mr.  Harvie  moved  to 


strike  out  from  6th  section  the  word  "  shall," 
and  insert  in  lieu  thereof  the  word  ';  may." 
Ayes  5,  noes  26. 

Mr.  Booker  moved  to  strike  out  from  5th 
section  these  words,  "  The  next  class  which 
shall  be  preferred  for  exportation,  after  all 
the  applicants  of  the  former  class  at  any  time 
shall  have  been  provided  fcr,  shall  consist  of 
such  free  persons  of  color  as  are  now  resi- 
ding in  the  Commonwealth  contrary  to  law. 
but  who  may  consent  to  be  transported." 
Ayes  11,  noes  20. 

.March  1th.  Mr.  Dromgoole  moved  to 
strike  out  from  the  fifth  section  of  the  bill 
these  words,  "  And  those  who  not  being  en- 
titled to  remain  in  the  State,  but  not  consent- 
ing to  remove,  shall  have  been  hired  out  un- 
til a  sufficient  sum  is  raised  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  their  removal  and  subsequent  tem- 
porary support  as  aforesaid  as  herein  provi- 
ded "  Ayes  14,  noes  16. 

Mr.  Booker  moved  to  strike  out  the  10th 
section  of  said  bill.  Mr.  Rives  moved  to 
amend  said  proposed  amendment  by  striking 
out  fn>  '-ction  the  word  ninety.  Ayes 

27,  no  '•:.   Winston   moved  to  : 

the  word  fifty-     Ayes  17,  noes   M. 

Mr.  Rivc.s  movi'd  to  strike  out  the  words 
fifty  thousand  dollars  is  hereby  appropriated 
to  be  applied  to  these  purposes  for  the  year 
1833.  Ayes  12,  noes  19. 

The  question  then  recurring  on  the  motion 
to  strike  out  the  10th  section,  it  was  disa- 
greed to.  Ayes  9,  noes  2'2. 

Mr.  Hanson  proposed  to  amend  by  insert- 
ing after  the  5th  hection  the  following  words. 

Whenever  application  shall  be  made  to  said 
central  Board  lor  aid  in  the  removal  of  any 
free  persons  of  color,  either  directly  or 
through  any  Agent  of  the  said  Board,  t>uch 
application  vshall  be  accompanied  with  a  par- 
ticular statement  of  the  age  and  sex  of  tlio 
class  to  which  they  belong,  and  of  the  coun- 
ties in  which  they  reside. 

•'  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  .said  Board  to 
keep  a  correct  li*t  of  all  such  applicants,  and 
in  the  expenditure  of  the  fund  hereinafter  to 
be  provided,  to  apportion  the  disbursement 
as  ne::rly  as  may  be  consistently  with  the 
other  provisions  of  this  act,  among  the  sev- 
eral counties,  cities,  Sec.,  of  this  Common- 
wealth, from  which  such  applications  ."hull 
proceed  according  to  their  free  colored  popu- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


lation  respectively."  Agreed  to,  ayes  16, 
noes  13. 

Mr.  Joynes  proposed  further  to  amend  the 
bill  by  inserting  after  the  6th  section  this 
proviso,  That  nothing  in  this  act  shall  be 
construed  to  repeal  any  part  of  the  act  of  the 
7th  of  April,  1831,  concerning  slaves,  free 
negroes  and  mulattoes. 

Mr.  Patterson  moved  to  amend  the  6th 
section,  by  striking  out  from  the  word  '  shall,' 
after  the  word  'aforesaid'  included,  and  in- 
serting in  lieu  thereof  the  following :  '  Be 
proceeded  against  in  all  respects  as  directed 
by  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  the  7th  of 
April,  1831.'  Agreed  to. 

March  Wtk.  On  motion  of  Mr.  McComas, 
the  vote  rejecting  Mr.  Dromgoole's  amend- 
ment of  March  7th,  was  re-considered  and 
the  amendment  was  adopted.  Ayes  17,  noes 
13. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Dromgoole  the  7th  sec- 
tion was  stricken  out. 

Mr.  Patterson  moved  to  amend  said  bill  by 
inserting  in  lieu  of  the  7th  section  the  fol- 
lowing: "  No  slave  shall  hereafter  be  eman- 
cipated for  any  purpose,  except  upon  the  con- 
ditions &.c.  of  the  act  of  the  7th  of  April, 
1831,  concerning  slave;-,  free  negroes  and 
mulattoes,  and  if  any  shall  be  emancipated 
contrary  to  the  provisions  thereof  to  take 
effect  after  the  death  of  the  testator  without 
any  power  for  transportation  of  such  manu- 
mitted slave,  the  legal  representative  shall, 
if  there  be  no  other  lien  by  law  on  the  liber- 
ty of  such  emancipated  slave,  hire  out  him, 
her  or  them  until  a  sufficient  sum  shall  be 
received  for  the  transportation  and  support 
of  any  free  person  of  color.  Provided  that 
said  Board  shall  in  no  case  pay  for  the  trans- 
portation of  any  free  person  of  color  who 
shall  be  able  to  pay  these  expenses  out  of  his 
own  resources.  Disagreed  to,  ayes  13,  noes 
17. 

Mr.  Morgan  offered  the  following  substi- 
tute: 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  That  such  of  the  free  negroes  and 
mulattoes  in  the  Commonwealth,  desiring  to 
move  beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States, 
as  the  courts  of  the  counties  and  corpora- 
tions, respectively,  within  which  they  may 
reside  shall  think  proper  to  provide  for,  shall 
be  removed  to  such  place  or  places,  beyond 


the  limits  of  the  United  States,  as  the  Gov- 
ernor shall  designate,  and  be  supported  after 
their  removal  for  a  reasonable  time,  at  the 
expense  of  the  counties  and  corporations,  re- 
spectively, from  whence  they  shall  have  been 
so  removed ;  and  the  manner,  regulations 
and  conditions  for  the  removal,  and  subse- 
quent temporary  support  of  such  persons, 
shall  be  presented  by  the  Governor. 

2nd.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  county 
and  corporation  court,  in  the  month  of  May, 
in  every  year,  to  consider  and  decide  on  the 
propriety  of  providing  for  the  removal  and 
subsequent  temporary  support  of  such  of  the 
free  negroes  and  mulattoes,  as  in  the  opinion 
of  the  court  ought  to  be  removed  with  their 
own  consent.  The  court  shall  decide  that 
they  will  or  will  not  provide  for  the  removal 
aforesaid,  and  their  determination  shall  be 
entered  of  record  and  be  final  for  that  year. 
If  it  shall  be  their  determination  to  provide 
for  the  removal  of  any  of  the  said  persons, 
they  shall  make  an  order  declaring  what 
classes  and  description  of  free  negroes,  and 
mulattoes  shall  be  removed  at  public  expense, 
\vhat  number  of  persons  they  will  provide 
for  that  year,  and  the  amount  of  money  they 
will  allow  for  the  removal  and  temporary 
support  of  each  person,  which  shall  in  no 
case  be  less  than  $30  00.  And  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  clerk  to  register  in  a  book  to 
be  provided  and  kept  for  that  purpose,  the 
name  and  description  of  each  person  who 
shall  apply,  at  any  time  before,  or  during  the 
next  succeeding  term  of  the  court,  at  which 
said  next  term,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
court  to  ascertain  the  number  of  the  appli- 
cants, their  classes  and  descriptions  ;  and  if 
there  be  more  than  were  authorised  at  the 
preceding  term,  or  any  not  coming  within 
the  classes  and  descriptions  so  authorised, 
they  shall  designate  among  the  applicants 
those  to  be  removed  ;  and  immediately  levy 
on  the  subjects  of  taxation  within  the  county 
or  corporation  by  a  fair  and  equal  percentum, 
on  the  amount  of  the  public  revenue  for  that 
year,  a  sum  sufficient  to  effect  the  objects 
aforesaid,  and  to  defray  the  expenses  of  pro- 
viding for,  collecting,  and  paying  the  money 
so  levied  into  the  treasury  of  the  State.  The 
clerk  shall  as  soon  as  practicable  thereafter, 
under  the  order  and  instruction  of  the  court, 
deliver  to  the  sheriff,  or  other  collector  of 


54 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


the  money  so  levied,  as  shall  be  necessary 
to  enable  him  to  collect  the  same  :  and  also 
transmit  to  the  auditor  of  public  accounts  a 
copy  thereof,  to  enable  him  to  settle  with  the 
sheriff  or  collector,  and  also  transmit  to  the 
Governor  a  copy  of  the  register  of  the  per- 
sons to  be  transported.  For  the  service*  the 
court  shall  make  the  clerk  a  reasonable  al- 
lowance, to  be  certified  and  paid  on  the  or- 
der of  the  Governor,  out  of  the  money  after 
it  shall  have  been  received  in  the  treasury. 
The  sheriff  or  other  collector  shall  have  the 
same  power  and  authority  to  enforce  the  pay- 
ment of  thr  said  levy,  be  allowed  the  same 
commhsions  for  the  collections  and  payment 
into  the  treasury,  at  the  time,  of  paying  the 
revenue,  and  be  under  the  same  responsi- 
bilities, fines  and  penalties,  by  motion  or 
otherwise,  which  now  are  or  hereafter  may 
be,  provided  by  law  in  relation  to  the  collec- 
tion and  payment  of  the  public  revenue. 

3d.  The  auditor  of  public  accounts,  and 
the  treasurer  shall  open  separate  books  and 
accounts  for  the  transportation  fund.  They 
shall  charge  this  fund  with  all  sums  of  money 
paid  for  the  purpose  of  being  applied  under 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  whether  the  same 
shall  have  been  raised  by  levy  as  aforesaid 
or  by  donation,  and  it  shall  be  credited  by  all 
sums  disbursed  under  the  orders  of  the  Gov- 
ernor. There  shall  be  separate  accounts 
opened  between  each  county  and  corpora- 
tion and  the  fund,  so  as  to  exhibit  at  all  times 
the  exact  amount  of  money  received  to  the 
credit  of  each  county  and  corporation,  and 
also  the  amount  disbursed  for  the  transporta- 
tion of  free  negroes  and  mulattoes  there- 
from. The  treasurer  shall  receive  all  mo- 
nies which  shall  be  paid  into  the  said  fund, 
and  account  for,  and  pay  the  same  in  the 
warrants  of  the  auditor  of  public  accounts. 
The  whole  fund  shall  be  under  the  direction 
and  control  of  the  Governor,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  emigrants,  and  in  the  administration 
thereof  lie  shall  apply  the  money  paid  in 
from  each  county  and  corporation  as  nearly 
as  practicable  for  the  removal  and  temporary 
:-,upport  of  the  emigrant?  from  them  respec- 
tively, ill  such  manner  as  in  his  opinion  will 
be  best  calculated  to  effect  the  object^  in 
view. 

4th.  The  Governor  shall  have  full  power 
and  authority  to  appoint  a«  many  agrnt«,  to 


be  compensated  out  of  the  transportation 
fund,  as  shall  be  proper  for  the  purpose  of 
collecting  the  emigrants,  chartering  vessels 
and  doing  and  performing  all  things  necessa- 
ry in  relation  to  the  removal  of  the  persona 
aforesaid,  to  such  place  or  places  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  United  States,  as  he  shall  desig- 
nate, and  for  their  subsequent  support  for 
such  reasonable  time  thereafter  as  he  may 
think  proper.  The  Governor  by  himself,  and 
his  agents,  shall  have  full  power  and  author- 
ity to  make,  and  by  all  legal  ways  and  means 
to  enforce  all  contracts  necessary  and  proper 
to  effect  the  transportation  and  support  of  the 
persons  aforesaid,  and  in  so  doing  to  use  or 
pledge  the  transportation  fund  as  to  him  may 
seem  proper. 

5th.  The  Governor  shall,  as  far  as  practi- 
cable, cause  to  be  removed  all  persons  who 
shall  have  applied  to  the  courts  and  been 
provided  for  by  levy  ;  but  should  the  levy 
of  any  county  or  corporation  be  insufficient 
for  the  removal  and  temporary  support  of 
the  number  of  persons  admitted  by  the  court, 
the  Governor  or  some  agent  shall  determine 
who  among  the  applicants  shall  be  removed  ; 
and  if  from  any  cause  persons  provided  for 
shall  not  be  removed,  the  court  shall  admit 
and  order  the  removal  of  an  equal  number 
of  other  free  negroes  and  mulattoes. 

6th.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Governor 
of  this  Commonwealth,  as  soon  as  practica- 
ble, to  open  a  correspondence  with  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States  to  ascertain  from 
the  latter  all  the  information  he  may  be 
pleased  to  communicate  in  relation  to  the 
state  and  condition  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Western  Coast  and  interior  of  Africa,  the 
quality  and  products  of  the  soil,  the  general 
character  of  the  country,  and  its  adaptation 
to  improvements  and  the  art  of  civilization, 
the  situation  and  magnitude  of  its  Cafes, 
Bays  and  Rivers,  and  the  character  of  the 
climate,  and  such  other  information  as  in  his 
opinion  may  be  calculated  to  show  the  prac- 
ticability and  propriety  of  colonizing  free 
negroes  and  mulattoes.  and  to  ascertain  what 
part  of  the  country,  if  any,  may  be  occupied 
for  that  purpose,  consistent  with  the  rela- 
tions between  the  United  States  and  foreign 
nations,  States  and  Powers,  and  if  no  part 
sustained  for  that  purpose  can  now  be  occu- 
pied; consistent  with  the  present  relation ^  U  - 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


55 


tween  the  United  States  and  foreign  Nations, 
States  and  Powers,  whether  any,  and  if  any, 
what  part  may  be  procured  for  that  purpose, 
and  the  time,  manner  and  terms  thereof; 
which  correspondence  and  information,  when 
procured,  the  Governor  shall  lay  before  the 
General  Assembly.'7 

And  on  the  question  being  put  thereupon, 
it  was  disagreed  to  by  the  Senate — Ayes  15, 
noes  16. 

Extract  from  the  Journal  of  the  Senate, 
March  10th,  1832. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Causes  a/id  results  of  the  abolition  debate  in 
the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  in  the 
session  of  1831-32;  its  effect  upon  public 
opinion  and  upon  the  cause  of  African  Col- 
onization in  Virginia  .  Letters  of  Jeffer- 
son, Madison  and  Marshall.  Views  of  B. 
Watkins  Leigh  and  Professor  Dew,  Sfc. 

We  have  now  reached  a  stand-point 
whence  we  can  look  calmly  around  us,  and 
form  a  just  estimate  of  the  causes  and  effects 
of  the  debate  upon  the  gradual  abolition  of 
slavery  in  Virginia.  We  repeat  that  in  our 
opinion,  we  should  not  judge  the  past  by 
the  lights  of  the  present  generation.  That 
was  the  eulminating  point — the  rlood  tide  of 
anti-slavery  feeling  which  had  been  gradually 
rising  for  more  than  a  century  in  Virginia 
and  was  then  precipitated  upon  us  before  its 
(ime  by  the  South-Hampton  convulsion. 

Great  Britain  was  engaged  in  the  slave 
trade  before  the  Colony  of  Virginia  was 
planted.  Queen  Elizabeth,  Charles  I.  and  II, 
James  II.  and  William  III.  all  encouraged  it. 

o 

Virginia  was  among  the  foremost  in  war- 
ring against  it.  Judge  H.  St.  George  Tuck- 
er of  Williamsburg,  in  his  notes  on  Black- 
stone's  Commentaries,  hats  collected  twenty- 
three  acts  of  Assembly  imposing  duties  on 
the  importation  of  slaves  from  1669  to  1772. 
In  the  latter  year  most  of  these  acts  were 
re-enacted  and  the  Assembly  presented  a 
petition  to  the  throne  earnestly  imploring 
the  "paternal  assistance"  of  his  Britannic 
majesty  to  avert  from  the  Colony  the  "  great 
calamity"  arising  from  the  importation  of 
slaves,  "  a  trade  of  great  inhumanity,"  and 
a  "  pernicious  commerce."  The  prayer  did 
not  avail. 


In  the  first  draft  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence Mr.  Jefferson  incorporated  the 
following  clause  in  hid  enumeration  ofwrongs 
done  us  by  the  King  of  Great  Britain.  It 
u-nsstrickenout  in  defference  to  theDelegati-s 
from  South  Carolina.  "  He  has  wa^ed  cruel 

O 

war  against  human  nature  itself,  violating 
its  most  sacred  rights  of  life  nnd  liberty  in 
the  persons  of  a  distant  people  who  never 
offended  him  ;  captivating  and  carrying  them 
into  slavery  in  another  hemisphere  or  incur- 
ring a  miserable  death  in  their  transportation 
thither.  This  piratical  warfare — the  oppro- 
bium  of  infidel  powers — is  the  warfare  of  the 
Christian  King  of  Great  Britain.  Deter- 
mined to  keep  open  a  market  where  men 
should  be  bought  and  sold,  he  has  prostitu- 
ted his  negative  for  suppressing  any  Legisla- 
tive attempt  to  prohibit  and  restrain  this  exe- 
crable commerce,  and  that  this  assemblage  of 
horrors  might  want  no  fact  of  distinguished 
dye,  he  is  now  exciting  those  very  people 
to  rise  in  arms  against  us,  to  purchase  that 
liberty  of  which  he  has  deprived  them  by 
murdering  the  people  on  whom  he  also  ob- 
truded them,  thus  paying  off  former  crimes 
committed  against  the  liberty  of  one  peo- 
ple with  crimes  which  he  urges  them  to 
commit  against  the  lives  of  another." 

Mr.  Madison  gays  this  clause  was  stricken 
out  in  compliance  to  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia  who  wished  for  a  time  to  continue 
the  trade — "  Our  Northern  Brethren  too  (he 
adds,)  I  believe  felt  a  little  tender  under  those 
censures,  for  though  their  people  had  but  few 
slaves,  yet  they  had  been  pretty  considerable 
carriers  of  them  to  others  ! 

George  Mason  of  Virginia  said  in  the  fed- 
eral congress.  "  This  infernal  traffic  orio-j- 
nated  in  the  avarice  of  British  Merchants." 
Mr.  Madison  in  the  same  debate  objected  to 
postponing  the  prohibition  of  the  trade  to 
the  year  1808,  saying  "  so  long  a  term  will 
be  more  dishonorable  to  the  American  char- 
acter than  to  say  nothing  about  it."  The  vote 
on  this  proposition  was,  ayes — New  Hamp- 
shire, Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Maryland, 
South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  Georgia. 
Noes — Virginia,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania 
and  Delaware. 

The    History  of  the  country  shows   that 


56 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


Virginia  representatives  took  the  lead  in  car-! 
rying  those  measures   in  1808,  and  again  in  j 
1819,  &c.,  which  led  to  tl.e  extinction  of  the 
slave    trade,   which    was   prohibited    by   the 
United  States   thirty  years  before   it  was  by 
Great   Britain.     Virginia   therefore,    in    the 
language  of  Professor  Dew,  has  nothing  to 
reproach  herself  with.    She  truly  stands  upon 
this  subject  like  the  Chevalier   Bnyard  sans 
peur  et  sans  reproche. 

From  the  year  1776  to  1832  the  prevalent 
sentiment  was  that  slavery  was  not  entailed 
on  the  State  forever.  During  this  period 
none  of  her  economists,  with  the  single  ex- 
ception perhaps  of  Mr.  Giles,  has  defended 
the  abstract  right  of  slavery.  The  opinions 
of  Washington,  Mason,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  Marshall,  Randolph,  and  indeed  of 
all  our  leading  statesmen  of  this  era  are  well 
known,  and  had  been  frequently  expressed. 

As  late  as  1824  Mr.  Jefferson  in  a  letter 
to  Jared  Sparks  fully  exposed  his  views 
of  emancipation — the  mature  result,  he  said, 
of  his  reflections  for  forty-five  years  upon 
the  subject. 

TO   JARED    SPARKS. 

Monticello,  Feb.  4,  1824. 
IJear  Sir, 

I  duly  received  your  favour  of  the  13th, 
and  with  it,  the  last  number  of  the  North 
American  Review.  This  has  anticipated  the 
one  I  should  receive  in  course,  but  have  not 
yet  received,  under  my  subscription  to  the 
new  series.  The  article  on  the  African  col- 
onization of  the  people  of  color,  to  which 
you  invite  my  attention,  I  have  read  with 
great  consideration.  It  is  indeed  a  fine  one, 
and  will  do  much  good.  I  learn  from  it 
more,  too,  th,an  I  had  before  known,  of  the 
degree  of  success  and  promise  of  that  colony. 

In  the  disposition  of  these  unfortunate 
people,  there  are  two  rational  objects  to  be 
distinctly  kept  in  view.  1.  The  establish- 
ment of  a  colony  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
which  may  introduce  among  the  aborigines 
the  arts  of  cultivated  life,  and  the  blessings 
of  civilization  and  science.  By  doing  this, 
we  may  make  to  I  hem  some  retribution  for 
the  long  course  of  injuries  wo  have  been 
committing  on  their  population.  And  con- 


sidering that  these  blessings  will  descend  to 
the  '  nati  natorum,  et  gui  nascenhir  ab  tV/fj,' 
we  shall  in  the  long  run  have  rendered  them 
perhaps  more  good  than  evil.  To  fulfil  this 
object,  the  colony  of  Sierra  Leone  promises 
well,  and  that  of  Mesurado  adds  to  our  pros- 
pect of  success.  Under  this  view,  the  Col- 
onization Society  is  to  be  considered  as  a 
missionary  society,  having  in  view,  however, 
objects  more  humane,  more  justifiable,  and 
less  aggressive  on  the  peace  of  other  nations, 
than  the  others  of  that  appellation. 

The  second  object,  and  the  most  interest- 
ing to  us,  as  coming  home  to  our  physical 
and  moral  characters,  to  our  happiness  and 
safety,  is  to  provide  an  asylum  to  which  we 
can,  by  degrees,  send  the  whole  of  that  pop- 
ulation from  among  us,  and  establish  them 
under  our  patronage  and  protection,  as  a  sep- 
arate free  and  independent  people,  in  some 
country  and  climate  friendly  to  human  life 
ami  happiness.  That  any  place  on  the  coast 
of  Africa  should  answer  the  latter  purpose, 
I  have  ever  deemed  entirely  im>>o.-.-:il,le. 
And  without  repeating  the  other  arguments 
which  have  been  urged  by  others,  I  will  ap- 
peal to  figures  only,  which  admit  no  contro- 
versy. 1  shall  speak  in  round  numbers,  not 
absolutely  accurate,  yet  not  so  wide  Iroi.i 
trutli  as  to  varv  the  result  materially.  There 
are  in  the  United  States  a  million  and  a  half 
of  people  of  colour  in  slavery.  To  send  off 
the  whole  of  these  at  once,  nobody  con- 
ceives to  be  practicable  for  us,  or  expedient 
for  them.  Let  us  tr.ke  twenty-five  years  for 
its  accomplishment,  within  which  time  they 
shall  be  doubled.  Their  estimated  value  as 
property  in  the  first  place,  (for  actual  property 
has  been  lawfully  vested  in  that  form,  and 
who  can  lawfully  take  it  from  the  possessors  ?) 
at  an  average  of  two  hundred  dollars  each, 
young  and  old,  would  amount  to  six  hundred 
millions  of  dollars,  which  must  be  paid  or 
lost  by  somebody.  To  this,  add  the  cost  of 
their  transportation  by  land  and  sea  to  Mes- 
urado, a  year's  provision  of  food  and  cloth- 
ing, implements  of  husbandry  and  of  (heir 
trades,  which  will  amount  to  three  hundred 
millions  more,  making  thirty-six  million?;  of 
dollars  a  year  for  twenty-five  years,  with  in- 
surance of  peace  all  that  time,  and  it  is  im- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


75 


possible  to  look  at  the  question  a  second 
time.  I  am  aware  that  at  the  end  of  about 
sixteen  years,  a  gradual  detraction  from  this 
sum  will  commence,  from  the  gradual  dimi- 
nution of  breeders,  and  go  on  during  the  re- 
maining nine  years.  Calculate  this  deduc- 
tion, and  it  is  still  impossible  to  look  at  the 
enterpri.se  a  second  time.  I  do  not  say  this 
to  induce  an  inference  that  the  getting  rid  of 

O  O 

them  is  forever  impossible.  For  that  is  nei- 
ther my  opinion  nor  my  hope.  But  only 
that  it  cannot  be  done  in  this  way.  There 
ft}  I  think,  a.  way  in  which  it  can  be  done  ; 
that  is,  by  emancipating  the  after  born,  leav- 
ing them,  on  due  compensation,  with  their 
mothers,  until  their  services  are  worth  their 
maintenance,  and  then  putting  them  to  in. 
dustrious  occupations,  until  a  proper  age  for 
deportation.  This  was  the  result  of  my  re- 
flections on  the  subject  five  and  forty  years 
ago,  and  I  have  never  yet  been  able  to  con- 
ceive any  other  practicable  plan.  It  was 
sketched  iti  Notes  on  Virginia,  under  the 
fourteenth  query.  The  estimated  value  of 
the  new-born  infant  is  so  low,  (say  twelve 
dollars  and  fifty-cents)  that  it  would  proba- 
bly be  yielded  by  the  owner  gratis,  and  would 
thus  reduce  the  six  hundred  millions  of  dol- 
lars,"the  first  head  of  expense,  to  thirty-seven 
millions  and  a  half:  leaving  only  the  expen- 
ses of  nourishment  while  with  the  mother, 
and  of  transportation.  And  from  what  fund 
are  these  expenses  to  be  furished  :  Win 
not  from  that  of  the  lifhds  which  have  been 
ceded  by  the  very  states  now  needing  this 
relief:  And  ceded  on  no  consideration,  for 
the  most  pan,  but  that  of  the  general  good 
of  the  whole.  These  cessions  already  con- 
stitute one  fourth  of  the  states  of  the  union. 
It  may  be  said  that  these  lands  have  been 
sold  ;  are  now  the  property  of  the  citizens 
composing  those  states  ;  and  the  money  long 
ago  received  and  expended.  But  an  equiv- 
alent nflands  in  the  territories  since  acquired, 
may  be  appropriated  to  that  object,  or  so 
much  at  least  as  may  be  sufficient ;  and  the 
object,  although  more  important  to  the  slave 
states,  is  highly  so  to  the  others  also,  if  they 
were  serious  in  their  arguments  on  the  Mis- 
souri question.  The  slave  slates,  too,  if 
more  interested,  would  also  contribute  more 

8 


by  their  gratuitous  liberation,  thus  taking  on 
themselves  alone  the  first  and  heaviest  item 
of  expense. 

In  the  plan  sketched  in  the  Notes  on  Vir- 
ginia, no  particular  place  of  asylum  was 
specified  ;  because  it  was  thought  possible, 
that  in  the  revolutionary  state  of  America, 
then  commenced,  events  might  open  to  us 
some  one  within  practicbale  distance.  This 
has  now  happened.  St.  Domingo  has  be- 
come independent,  and  with  a  population  of 
that  color  only  ;  and  if  the  public  papers  are 
to  be  credited,  their  Chief  offers  to  pay  their 
passage,  to  receive  them  as  free  citizens,  and 
to  provide  them  employment. 

This  leaves,  then  for  the  general  confedera- 
cy, no  expense  but  of  nurture  with  the  mother 
a  few  years,  and  would  call,  of  course,  for  a 
very  moderate  appropriation  of  the  vacant 
lands.  Suppose  the  whole  annual  increase 
to  be  of  sixty  thousand  effective  births,  fifty 
vessels,  of  four  hundred  tons  burthen  each, 
constantly  employed  in  that  short  run,  would 
carry  off  the  increase  of  every  year,  and  the 
old  stock  would  die  off  in  the  ordinary  course 
of  nature,  lessening  from  the  commence- 
ment until  its  final  disappearance.  In  this 
way  no  violation  of  private  right  is  proposed. 
Voluntary  surrenders  would  probably  come 
in  as  fast  as  tiie  means  to  be  provided  for 
their  care  would  be  competent  to  it.  Look- 
ing at  my  own  state  only,  and  I  presume  not 
to  speak  for  the  others,  I  verily  believe  that 
this  surrender  of  property  would  not  amount 
to  more,  annually,  than  half  of  our  present 
direct  taxes,  to  be  continued  fully  about 
twenty  or  twenty-five  years,  and  then  grad- 
ually diminishing  for  as  many  more  until 
their  final  extinction;  and  even  this  half  tax- 
would  not  be  paid  in  cash,  but  by  the  deliv- 
ery of  an  object  which  they  had  never  yet 
known  or  counted  as  part  of  their  property  : 
and  those  not  possessing  the  object  will  be 
called  on  for  nothing.  I  do  not  go  into  all 
the  details  oi  the  burthens  and  benefits  of 
this  operation.  And  who  could  estimate  its 
blessed  effects  ?  I  leave  this  to  those  who 
will  live  to  see  their  accomplishment,  and  to 
enjoy  a  beatitude  forbidden  to  my  age.  But 
I  leave  it  with  this  admonition,  to  rise  and  be 
doing.  A  million  and  a  half  are  within 


58 


The.  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


their  control  ;  but  six  millions  (which  a  ma- 
jority of  those  no\v  living  will  see  them  at- 
tain,) and  one  million  of  these  fiirhting  men, 
will  say,  '  we  will  not  go.' 

I  am  aware  that  this  subject  involves  some 
constitutional  scruples.  But  a  liberal  con- 
struction, justified  by  the  object,  may  go  far, 
and  an  amendment  of  the  constitution,  die 
whole  length  necessary.  The  separations  of 
infants  from  their  mothers,  too,  would  pro- 
duce some  scruples  of  humanity.  But  (his 
would  be  straining  at  a  gnat,  and  swallov.'ing 
a  camel. 

I  am  much  pleased  to  see  that  you  have 
taken  up  the  subject  of  the  duty  on  imported 
books.  I  hope  a  crusade  will  be  kept  up 
against  it,  until  those  in  power  shall  become 
sensible  of  this  .stain  on  our  legislation  and 
shall  wipe  it  from  their  code,  and  from  the 
remembrance  of  man,  if  possible; 

I  salute  you  with    assurances  of  hi 
pect  and  esteem. 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 

In  December  1831,  just  before  the  debate 
in  the  General  Assembly  Chief  Justic 
shall  and  ex-president  Madison  published 
their  views  upon  the  questions  then  agitating 
the  public  mind  in  the  form  of  letters  to  the 
Rev.  R.  Randolph  Gurley. 

MojfTPELiEK,  December  29. 
Dear  air  :  I  received,  in  due  time,  your 
letter  of  the  21st  ult.  and  with  due  sensibili- 
ty to  the  subject  of  it.  Such,  however,  has 
been  the  effect  of  a  painful  rheumatism  on 
my  general  condition,  as  well  as  in  disquali- 
fying my  fingers  for  the  use  of  the  pen,  that 
I  could  not  do  justice  •'  to  theprincip! 
measures  of  the  Colonization  Society  in  al! 
the  great  and  various  relations  they  su.-tain 
to  our  own  country  and  to  Africa,"  if  my 
views  of  them  could  have  the  value  v.  hich 
your  partiality  supposes.  I  may  observe,  in 
brief,  that  the  Society  had  always  my  good 
wishes,  though  with  hopes  of  its  success 
-anguine  than  were  entertained  by  others 
found  to  have  been  the  better  judges ;  ant 
that  I  feel  the  greatest  pleasure  at  the  pro- 
gress already  made  by  the  Society,  and  the 
encouragement  to  encounter  remaining  dif- 
ticuliif-  alVonlri]  l.y  the  earlier  and  g 
*nes  already  overcome.  Many  cin-nni  i.m- 


;hc  present  moment  seem  to  concur 
•litening  the  prospects  of  the  Society 
and  cherishing  the  hope  that  the  time  will 
come,  when  the  dreadful  calamity  which  has 
so  long  afflicted  our  country  and  filled  so 
many  with  despair,  will  be  gradually  re- 
moved and  by  means  consistent  with  justice, 
and  the  general  satisfaction  :  thus 
giving  t:>  niir  country  the  full  enjoyment  of 
the  blessings  of  liberty,  and  to  the  world  the 
full  benefit  of  its  great  example.  I  never 
considered  the  main  difficulty  of  the  great 
work  as  lying  in  the  deficiency  of  emanci- 
pations, but  in  an  inadequacy  of  asylums 
for  such  a  growing  mass  of  population,  and 
in  the  great  expense  of  removing  it  to  its  new 
home.  The  spirit  of  private  manumission 
as  the  liiws  may  permit  and  the  exiles  may 
.;(,  is  increasing  and  will  inci ;:;-.-.  :  and 
there  arc  sufficient  indications  that  the  pub- 
lic authorities  in  slave-hold; 
looking  forward  to  interpositions  in  differ- 
ent forms  that  must  have-  a  powerful  > 
With  respect  to  the  new  abode  for  the  emi- 
grants, all  agree  that  the  choice  made  by  ihe 
Society  is  rendered  peculiarly  appropriate  by 
considerations  which  need  not  be  repeated, 
and  if  other  situations  should  not  he  found 
eligible  receptacles  for  a  portion  of  them, 
the  prospects  in  Africa  seem  to  be  expand- 
ing in  a  highly  encouraging  degree. 

In  contemplating  the  pecuniary  resources 
needed  for  the  removal  of  such  a  number  to 
so  great  a  distance,  my  thoughts  and  hopes 
^oen  long  turned  to  the  rich  fund  pre- 
sented in  the  western  lands  of  the  Nation, 
which  will  soon  entirely  cease  to  be  under  a 
•  for  another  object.  The  great  one  in 
queston  is  truly  of  a  national  character,  and 
it  is  known  that  distinguished  patriots  not 
dwelling  in  slave-holding  States  have  viewed 
the  object  in  that  light  and  would  be  willing 
to  let  the  national  domain  i 
effecting  it. 

Should    it    be    remarked   that  the    S 
though  all  may  be  interested  in  relieving  our 
country  from  the   coloured   population,  they 

)t.  equally  sn  ;  it  is  but  fair  to  rec- 
that  the  sections    most   to  be    benr-lilted,  arc 
those  whose  ce  ated  ilie  fund  to  be 

disposed  of. 

T  am  aware  of  the    constitutional  obstacle 
which  If:    but   i!'  the  gene- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


59 


nil  will  be  reconciled  to  an  application  of  the 
territorial  fund  to  the  removal  of  the  colored 
population,  a  grant  to  Congress  of  the  ne- 
cessary authority  could  be  carried,  with  little 
delay,  through  the  forms  of  the  Constitution. 
Sincerely  wishing  an  increasing  success  to 
the  labors  of  the  Society,  I  pray  you  to  be 
assured  of  my  esteem,  and  to  accept  my 
friendly  salutations. 

JAMES  MADISON. 

RICHMOND,  Dec.  14,  1831. 
_  Dear  Sir  :  I  received  your  letter  of  the 
7th,  in  the  course  of  the  mail,  but  it  was  not 
accompanied  by  the  documents  you  men- 
tion. 

I  undoubtedly  feel  a  deep  interest  in  the 
success  of  the  Society,  but,  if  I  had  not  long 
since  formed  a  resolution  against  appearing 
in  print  on  any  occasion,  I  should  now  be 
unable  to  comply  with  your  request.  In  ad- 
dition to  various  occupations  which  press  on, 
me  very  seriously,  the  present  state  of  my 
family  is  such  as  to  prevent  my  attempting 
to  prepare  any  thing  for  publication. 

The  great  object  of  the  Society,  I  pre- 
sume, is  to  obtain  pecuniary  aids.  Applica- 
tion will  undoubtedly  be  made,  I  hope  suc- 
cessfully, to  the  several  State  Legislatures  by 
the  societies  formed  within  them  respective- 
ly. It  is  extremely  desirable  that  they  should 
pass  permanent  laws  on  the  subject,  and  the 
excitement  produced  by  the  late  insurrection 
makes  this  a  favorable  moment  for  the  friends 
of  the  Colony  to  press  for  such  acts.  It 
would  be  also  desirable,  if  such  a  direction 
could  be  given  to  State  Legislation  as  might 
have  some  tendency  to  incline  the  people  of 
color  to  migrate.  This,  however,  is  a  sub- 
ject of  much  delicacy.  Whatever  may  be 
the  success  of  our  endeavors  to  obtain  acts 
for  permanent  aids,  I  have  no  doubt  that  our 
•applications  for  immediate  contributions  will 
receive  a'tention.  It  is  possible,  though 
not  probable,  that  more  people  of  color  may 
be  disposed  to  migrate  than  can  be  provided 
for  with  the  funds  the  Society  may  be  ena- 
abled  to  command.  Under  this  impression 
I  suggest*  d,  some  years  past,  to  one  or  two 
of  the  Board  of  Managers,  to  allow  a  small 
additional  bounty  in  lands  to  those  who 
would  pay  their  own  passage  in  whole  or  in 
part.  The  suggestion,  however,  wan  not  ap- 
proved. 


It  is  undoudtedly  of  great  importance  to 
retain  the  countenance  and  protection  of  the 
General  Government.  Some  of  our  cruizers 
stationed  on  the  coast  of  Africa  would,  at 
the  same  time,  interrupt  the  slave  trade — 
a  horrid  traffic  detested  by  all  good  men,  and 
would  protect  the  vessels  and  commerce  of 
the.  Colony  from  pirates  who  infest  those 
seas.  The  power  of  the  government  to  af- 
ford this  aid  is  not,  I  believe,  contested.  I 
regret  that  its  power  to  grant  pecuniary  aid 
is  not  equally  free  from  question.  On  this 
subject,  I  have  always  thought,  and  still 
think,  that  the  proposition  made  by  Mi  . 
King,  in  the  Senate,  is  the  most  .unexcep- 
tionable, and  the  most  effective  that  can  be 
devised. 

The  fund  would  probably  operate  as  rap- 
idly as  would  be  desirable,  when  we  take 
into  view  the  other  resources  which  might 
come  in  aid  of  it,  and  its  application  would 
be,  perhaps,  less  exposed  to  those  constitu- 
tional objections  which  are  made  in  the 
South  than  the  application  ol  money  drawn 
from  the  Treasury  and  raised  by  taxes.  The 
lands  are  the  property  of  the  Ujiited  States, 
and  have  heretofore  been  disposed  of  by  the 
government  under  the  idea  of  absolute  own- 
ership. The  cessions  of  the  several  States 
convey  them  to  the  General  Government  for 
the  common  benefit  without  prescribing  any 
limits  to  the  judgment  of  Congress,  or  any 
rule  by  which  that  judgment  shall  be  exer- 
cised. The  cession  of  Virginia  indeed 
seems  to  look  to  an  apportionment  of  the 
fund  among  the  States,  "  according  to  their 
several  respective  proportions  in  Ihe  general 
charge  and  expenditure."  But  this  cession 
was  made  at  a  time  when  the  lands  were  be- 
lieved to  be  the  only  available  fund  for  paying 
the  debts  of  the  United  States  and  support- 
ing their  Government.  This  condition  has 
probably  been  supposed  to  be  controled  by 
the  existing  constitution,  which  gives  Con- 

ress  "  power  to  dispose  of,  and  make  all 
needful  rules  and  regulations  respecting  the 
territories  or  the  property  belonging  to  the 
U.  States.  It  is  certain  that  the  donations 
made  for  roads  and  colleges  are  not  in  pro- 
portion to  the  part  borne  by  each  State  of 

he  general  expenditure.  The  removal  of 
our  colored  population  is,  I  think,  a  common 
object,  by  no  means  confined  to  the  slave 


GO 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


Statei,  although  they  are  more  immediately 
interested  in  it.  The  whole  Union  would  be 
strengthened  by  it,  and  relieved  from  a  dan- 
ger, whose  extent  can  scarcely  be  estimated.! 
It  lessens  very  much  in  my  estimation,  the 
objection  in  a  political  view  to  the  applica- : 
tion  of  this  ample  fund,  that  our  lands  are 
becoming  an  object  for  which  the  States  are 
to  scramble,  and  which  threatens  to  sow  the 
seeds  of  discord  among  us  instead  of  being 
what  they  might  be — a  source  of  national 
wealth. 

I  am,  dear  sir, 

With  great  and  respectful  esteem, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  MARSHALL. 

We  have  recited  the  foregoing  facts  and 
re-produced  the  letters  of  Jefferson,  Madison 
and  Marshall  to  show  what  had  been  the  pre- 
vailing tone  of  public  sentiment  in  Virginia — 
from  1776  to  1832  upon  this  vexed  question 
of  slavery.  Mr.  Jefferson  it  will  be  observed 
distinguishes  between  the  Colonization  of 
free  negroes  and  the  emancipation  of  slaves 
He  was  in  favor  of  colonizing  the  free  ne- 
groes in  Africa,  as  "  the  greatest  of  mission- 
ary schemes."  But  he  was  also  an  emanci. 
pationist,  looking  to  the  ultimate  extinction, 
of  Slavery  in  Virginia.  He  did  not  how- 
ever regard  it  as  a  practical  thing  to  colo- 
nize our  entire  black  population  in  so  distant 
a  land  as  Africa.  His  plan  was  to  send  the 
free  negroes  to  Africa  and  the  slaves  to  the 
West  Indies.  Mr.  Jefferson  should  not  be 
confounded  with  modern  Abolitionist?.  They 
insist  upon  immediate  abolition,  he  was  in 
favor  of  gradual  emancipation.  They  deny 
the  right  of  property  in  slaves — he  distinct- 
ly recognized  it  and  would  compensate  mas- 
ters for  the  loss  of  it.  They  will  not  have 
emancipation  with  deportation,  he  would  not 
emancipate  without  deportation.  Ex-presi- 
dent Madison  and  the  Chief  Justice,  were  like 
Mr.  Jefferson,  c'olonizattonists.  The  former 
was  President  of  the  American  and  the 
latter  of  the  Virginian  Society  when  the 
foregoing  letters  were  written.  These  letters 
however  were  not  official  expositions  of  the 
views  of  the  Societies,  but  mere  expressions 
of  their  private  opinions  upon  the  topics 
then  agitating  the  public  mind  in  Virginia. 
Like  all  the  Virginia  Statesmen  of  the  Revo- 
utionary  era,  they  thought  slavery  an 


evil  whose   oradual   and   ultimate  extinction 

o 

was  a  consummation  devoutly  to  be  wished. 
They  did  not  think  the  Colonization  Society, 
competent  to  effect  such  a  result  even  if 
that  had  been  a  legitimate  object  of  its  la- 
bours. They  looked  to  the  aid  of  the  fede- 
ral government,  and  it  was  a  remarkable 
coincidence  that  without  concert  their  minds 
had  been  revolving  with  favor  the  plan  sub- 
mitted by  Rufus  King  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  on  the  15th  of  February  1825. 
This  plan  proposed  that  after  the  existing 
debt  of  the  United  States  (for  the  payment 
of  which  the  public  lands  had  been  pledged) 
had  been  paid  off  the  whole  of  the  public 
land  of  the  United  States  with  the  nett  pro- 
ceeds of  all  future  sales  thereof  should  con- 
stitute a  fund  to  aid  the  emancipation  and 
removal  of  such  slaves  and  free  negro 
by  the  laws  of  the  States  respectively  might 
be  allowed  to  be  emancipated  or  removed 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States.  Mr. 
Madison  said  that  he  was  aware  of  the  con- 
stitutional objections  that  might  be  urged  to 
such  a  measure,  but  that  if  the  people  were 
in  favor  of  it,  an  amendment  of  the  consti- 
tution might  be  easily  carried  through  all  the 
forms  of  law. 

In  view  of  these  and  other  tacts  in  our 
history  it  is  not  surprising  that  a  debate 
upon  the  subject  of  emancipation  should 
have  sprung  up  in  our  Legislature.  Under  or- 
dinary circumstances  it  might  have  been 
postponed  for  many  years.  It  was  not  ex- 
actly a  natural  and  normal  development. 
It  was  precipitated  by  the  "  affair  of  South- 
ampton. Under  the  stimulating  influence  of 
that  event,  petitions  were  sent  from  several 
counties  asking  the  intervention  of  the  Lr-ir- 
islaturc  in  the  disturbing  question  of  sla- 
very and  the  newspaper  Press  with  much  un- 
animity and  spirit  echoed  the  voice  of  the 
Petitioners. 

It  is  not  easy  at  this  distance  of  time  to 
tell  whether  the  Press  and  the  petitioners  re- 
flected the  general  sentiment.  In  the  col- 
umns of  the  newspapers  we  find  reports  of 
meetings  in  some  counties  in  favor  of  eman- 
cipation and  of  "indignation  meetings,"  in 
other  counties  complaining  of  the  newspa- 
pers and  protesting  against  the  agitation  of 
the  subject.  Among  the  men  of  note  \vho 
entered  the  lints  against  the  emancipationists 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


61 


was  B.  Watkins  Leigh  who  wrote  a  series  of 
articles  in  the  Richmond  Enquirer  under  the 
signature  of  "  Appomattox."  These  arti- 
cles in  vigor  of  thought,  in  elegance  of  dic- 
tion, and  in  pungency  of  satire,  make  the 
nearest  approximation  to  "  Junius,"  of  any 
thing  in  Virginia  literature.  Mr.  Leigh, 
though  a  man  of  strong  prejudices  was  the 
very  soul  of  honor  and  took  a  special  pride 
in  being  accurate  in  his  facts.  He  was  a 
close  observer  of  the  debate  and  he  expres- 
ses the  opinion  that  the  Editors,  Politicians 
•and  Petitioners  were  a  long  way  ahead  of 
public  sentiment.  According  to  his  state- 
ment, these  petitions  might  be  distributed 
into  the  following  classes  and  numbers. 

1st.  Petitions,  from  eleven  hundred  and 
eighty-eight  citizens  in  twelve  counties, 
praying  that  some  provision  should  be  made 
by  law  for  the  removal  of  the  free  negroes 
from  the  State.  The  views  of  these  persons. 
Mr.  Leigh  said  were  obviously  hostile  to  all 
schemes  of  emancipation  whatsoever,  and  their 
petition  did  not  seem  to  attract  any  serious 
attention.  2nd.  Petitions  were  presented 
from  three  hundred  and  seventy-eight  citi- 
zens praying  that  an  effort  should  be  made 
to  procure  an  amendment  of  the  Constitu- 
tion authorizing  the  Federal  Government  to 
assist  in  ridding  us  of  the  black  population. 

3rd.  Two  County  Colonization  Societies 
and  three  hundred  and  sixty-six  citizens  of 
four  counties  sent  memorials  and  petitions, 
suggesting,  (I  state  their  general  objects  as 
I  understand  it,)  measures  first  for  the  remo- 
val of  the  free  negroes  and  then  of  slaves 
'  hereafter  to  be  emancipated  by  their  owners 
or  purchased  by  the  public  at  a  fair  price, 
with  a  view  to  Colonization. 

A  Petition  from  sixty-one  citizens  of  War- 
wick, the  prayer  of  which  I  interpret  to  mean 
that  "something  may  be  done." 

Petitions  from  Buckingham  and  Loudoun 
signed  by  twenty-seven  men.  A  petition 
from  Augusta  signed  by  three  hundred  and 
forty-three  women. 

A  memorial  of  a  meeting  in  Albermarle 
and  one  from  a  Society  of  friends  in  Hanover 
praying  for  abolition  of  slavery,  some  upon 
Mr.  Randolph's  plan  and  some  in  general 
terms. 

Such  is  Mr.  Leigh's  analysis  of  the  number 
and  chara«ter  of  the  petitioners  to  the  Gene- 


ral Assembly.  He  is  accordingly  very  se- 
vere upon  the  Orators  and  the  Editors  whom 
he  charges  with  reflecting  the  opinions  of  a 
very  small  fragment  of  the  masses  of  people 
in  Virginia. 

Several  writers  in  the  newspapers  and  par 
ticularly  a  member  of  the  Assembly  tinder 
the  signature  of  Jefferson  questions  the  ac- 
curacy of  his  statements.  But  as  no  specific 
mistatement  is  pointed  out,  it  was  probably 
a  very  near  approximation  to  the  truth.  And 
yet  there  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  there 
was  quite  a  favorable  disposition  in  the  pub- 
lic mind  towards  some  plan  of  emancipation 
if  Any  practicable  plan  could  have  been  de- 
vised. It  will  be  observed  that  Mr.  Leio-h 

o 

distinguishes  between  the  petitioners  for 
emancipation  and  deportation  with  due  re- 
gard to  all  the  rights  of  property  and  peti- 
tioners for  abolition  without  any  recognition 
of  those  rights.  He  classes  the  Colonization- 
ists  amongst  the  former.  Indeed  it  is  a  no- 
ticeable fact  that  there  seem  to  have  been  but 
two  of  some  thirty  or  forty  County  Coloni- 
zation Societies  who  are  included  amono- 
, 

the  petitioners  at  all,  and  they  are  represen- 
ted as  respecting  the  rights  of  property  and 
all  their  constitutional  obligations.  The 
Colonization  Society  of  Virginia  seems  to 
have  pursued  a  very  prudent  and  conserva- 
tive course  for  in  the  very  heat  of  the  debate  it 
assembled  in  general  meeting  in  the  Capitol 
and  passed  (he  following  resolution  which 
shows  that  it  had  not  been  carried  away  by 
the  tide  of  popular  excitement.  The  follow- 
ing is  an  extract  from  the  minutes,  viz. 
"  The  annual  meeting  of  the  Colonization 
Society  of  Virginia,  was  held  in  the  Capitol 
on  the  llth.  of  January  1832.  General 
William  H.  Brodnax  in  the  chair. 

On  motion  it  was  resolved  that  the  Socie- 
ty deems  it  expedient  at  this  time  to  renew  its 
pledges  to  the  public  strictly  to  adhere  to 
that  original  feature  in  its  constitution  which 
confines  its  operations  to  the  removal  of  the 
free  people  of  color  only,  with  their  own  con- 
sent. 

At  the  same  time  the  Society  appointed 
Delegates  to  a  meeting  of  the  American 
Colonization  Society  to  meet  in  Washington 
in  a  few  days. 

Among  these  Delegates  were  Chief  Jus- 
tice Marshall,  Hon.  John  Tyler,  Andrew 


62 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


Stcphcnson,  T.  Walker   Gilmer    and  Hon. 
William.  S.  Archer. 

These  Delegates  attended  the  meeting  at 
Washington.      William    S.    Archer  made  a 
speech  in  the  course  of  which  he  said  the  ob- 
ject of  this  Society  involves  no  intrusion  on 
the  rights  of  property  nor  even   upon  preju- 
dice.     It  sought  the   removal   to    a    better 
state  of  a  people  who  had  ceased  to  be  pro- 
perty, &c.     From  an  anomalous  condition  of 
anathema,    this  excellent  association 
boring  to  remove  the    free  blacks  to 
ty    industry    and    independence    and 
countless   retinue   of  blessings.     He 


is  la- 
plen- 
thcse 


main- 


tained that  this  Society  was  a  blessing  to  the 
slave  and  the  slave-holder.  Although  the 
condition  of  the  slave  is  better  than  that  of 
the  free  black,  yet  the  latter  is  a  perpetual 
incitement  to  discontent  to  the  former. 
When  the  slave  steals  it  is  from  sympathy 


with  the  destitution  of  the 
trade  with  him. 


free   black  or  to 


The  removal  of  the  1'ree  black  would  ben- 
efit him,  benefit  the  master  and  benefit  the 
slave. 

Mr.  Archer  said  that  he  was  not  one  of 
those  who  (however  desirable  it  was  in  ab- 
stract speculation)  looked  to  the  complete 
removal  of  slavery  from  among  us.  If  that 
(consummation  devoutly  to  be  wished,)  was 
feasible  at  all,  it  was  at  a  period  too  remote 
to  warrant  the  expenditure  of  contemplation 
and  contribution  now. 

"But  a  great  benefit,  short  of  this,  was 
within  reach,  and  made  part  of  the  scope  of 
operation,  of  the  plan  of  the  Society.  The 
progress  of  slavery  was  subjected  to  the  ac- 
tion of  a  law,  of  the  utmost  regularity  of  ac- 
tion. Where  this  progress  was  neither 
stay?d,  nor  modified  by  causes  of  collateral 
operation,  it  hastened  with  a  frightful  rapidi- 
ty, disproportioned,  entirely,  to  the  ordinary 
law  of  the  advancement  of  population,  to  its 
catastrophe,  which  was  repletion.  If  none 
were  drained  away,  slaves  became,  except 
under  peculiar  circumstances  of  climate,  and 
production,  inevitably  and  speedily  redun- 
dant, first  to  the  occasions  of  profitable  em- 
ployment, and  as  a  consequence,  to  the  fac- 
ulty of  comfortable  provision  for  them.  No 
matter  what  the  humanity  of  the  owners, 
fixed  restriction  on  their  resources  must 
transfer  itself  to  the  comfort,  and  then  the 


subsistence,  of  the  slave.  At  this  last  stage, 
the  evil  in  this  form  had  to  stop.  To  this 
stage  (from  the  disproportioned  rate  of  mul- 
tiplication of  the  slaves — double  that  of  the 
owners  in  this  country)  it  was  obliged, 
though  at  different  periods,  in  different  cir- 
cumstances, to  come.  When  the  stage  had 
been  reached,  what  course  or  remedy  re- 
mained ?  Was  open  butchery  to  be  re- 
sorted to,  as  among  the  Spartans  with  the 
Helots  ;  Or  general  emancipation,  and  in- 
corporation, as  :u  South  America?  Or  aban- 
donment of  the  country  by  the  masters,  as  must 
come  to  be  the  case  in  the  West  Indies  ? 
Either  of  these  was  a  deplorable  catastro- 
phe. Could  all  of  them  be  avoided,  and  if 
they  could,  iiow  .-  There  was  but  one  way, 
but  that  might  be  made  effectual,  fortunate- 
ly !  It  was  to  provide  and  keep  open  a  a'rui/i 
for  the  excess  of  increase  beyond  the  occa- 
ns  of  profitable  cmploijmcnl.  This  might 
be  done  effectually  by  extension  of  the  plan 
of  the  Society.  The  drain  was  already 
opened.  All  that  was  tiecessary  would  be, 
to  provide  for  the  enlargement  of  the  chan- 
nel, as  occasion  might  demand  To  this  end, 
aid  was  looked  for,  from  the  Government  of 
the  United  States.  This  would  require.  Mr. 
Archet  thought,  an  amendment  to  tho  Con- 
stitution to  authorise  it,  a  resource  of  pre- 
carious reliance.  But  the  resources  of  the 
States  within  which  the  evil  wa-:  found,  wen; 
entirely  adequate  to  the  object.  The  Legis- 
latures of  thirteen  States,  had  committed 
themselves  in  approval  of  the  scheme  of  the 
Society.  To  these  we  were  authorized  to 
address  ourselves.  That  was  the  object  of 
the  resolution  he  had  to  submit.  The  Soci- 
ety had  done  all  that  private  association 
could  be  expected,  all  that  it  could  be  bound 
to  do,  in  leading  the  way,  and  demonstra- 
ting the  feasibility  (in  this  case  the  easy  fea- 
sibility) of  the  object.  The  residue  must  be 
done,  the  outline  be  filled  up,  by  public  ca- 


pacity. The  Society  had  fulfilled,  consumma- 
ted, its  proper  and  only  requirable  office — 
had  filled  the  measure  of  its  duty  and  repu- 
tion.  It  remained,  now,  for  the  State  Legis- 
latures to  take  up  their  part  of  the  function, 
and  to  redeem  the  pledge  which  so  many  of 
them  had  given.  To  these  he  had  now  to 
propose  we  should  nddress  ourselves,  it 
could  not  be,  he  hoped,  without  effect. 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


63 


"  Mr.  A.  l.acl  been  stating  the'c'ase  in  the 
supposition,  that  after  the  present  class  of 
free  blacks  had  been  exhausted,  by  the  ope- 
ration of  the  plan  he  was  recommending, 
others  would  be  supplied  for  its  action,  in 
the  proportion  of  the  excess  of  coloured 
population  it  would  be  necessary  to  throw 
off,  by  the  process  of  voluntary  manumission 
or  sale.  This  effect  must  result  inevitably 
from  the  depreciating  value  of  the  slaves  en- 
suing their  disproportionate  multiplication^ 
The  depreciation  would  be  relieved  and  re- 
iarded  at  the  same  time,  by  the  process. 
The  two  operations  would  aid  reciprocally, 
and  sustain  each  other,  and  both  be  in  the 
highest  degree  beneficial.  It  was  on  the 
ground  of  interest,  therefore, "the  most  indis- 
putable pecuniary  interest,  that  he  addressed 
himself  to  the  people  and  Legislatures  of  the 
slave-holding  States.  The  great  principles 
of  philanthropy  involved,  was  indeed  to  them 
as  to  the  other  quarters  and  Legislatures  of 
the  Union — a  powerful  re-inforcirig  conside- 
ration. But  he  put  the  case  directly,  to  the 
clear  sense  of  interest,  of  this  portion  sus- 
taining directly  the  pressure  of  the  evil. 
His  (Mr.  A's)  plan  was  disembarrassment 
by  each  State,  of  the  portion  of  the  evil 
which  belonged  to  it,  first,  as  it  existed,  af- 
terwards as  it  accrued,  by  the  exertion  of 
the  proper  resources  of  the  State,  which  he 
maintained,  would  be  adequate,  if  the  com- 
mencement of  the  process  were  no  longer 
delayed.  The  longer  this  was  delayed,  not 
only  did  the  mass  to  be  wrought  on,  become 
more  ponderous  by  augmentation,  but  the 
resources  of  operation  more  waning,  from 
declining  productiveness  of  the  property. 
This  then  was  the  time  to  invoke  the  com- 
mencement of  state  action.  There  was 
another  reason.  Large  and  overwhelming 
evils  induce  inertness  and  torpor  in  the  pub- 
lic mind,  which  it  demands  some  signal  in- 
cident or  catastrophe  to  awaken,  and  direct 
to  salutary  action.  This  has  been  the  case 
in  an  especial  manner,  with  the  portentous 
evil  in  question.  A  recent  and  most  tragi- 
cal catastrophe,  of  which  his  own  State  had 
been  the  scene,  had  now  put  the  public 
mind  wide  awake,  to  the  interest  of  this 
great  subject,  in  eVery  quarter.  The  mo- 
ment ought  not  surely  to  be  lost.  Men 
could  now  say  as  they  were  wont,  of  the  ex- 


tremest  peril  and   crisis  of  this  evil,   they 
will  not  come  in  our  day. 

"It  was  demonstrated  by  proof  of  fright- 
ful validity  that  the  peril  impended,  that  the 
crisis  might  come  on  any  day.  No !  he  was 
wrong  !  It  was  not  in  the  day  that  his  form 
of  horrors  ever  disclosed  itself.  It  came  in 
the  night — disclosed  itself  in  the  midnight 
glare  of  habitations  in  which  every  form  of 
outrage  and  butchery  had  previously  been 
wreaked,  on  every  form  of  life  and  helpless- 
ness, even  to  the  sleep  of  the  cradle.  To 
avert  the  remotest  prospect  of  evil  of  this 
character,  what  exertion  ought  to  be  omit- 
ted ?  What  sacrifice  or  expenditure  de- 
clined ?  None  that  gave  even  faint  promise 
of  aid !  In  this  view,  invoking  on  all  exer- 
tions in  the  cause,  the  blessing  which 
must  rest  on  their  motives,  he  proposed  the 
resolution  which  had  been  sent  to  the  Chair." 


Although  the  agitation  of  this  delicate 
subject  was  a  perilous  experiment,  whose 
immediate  effect  was  painful,  yet  we  do  not 
now  deprecate  it  because  it  seems  to  us  to 
have  been  one  of  those  critical  processes 
through  which  the  Body-Politic  must  occa- 
sionally pass  in  its  restoration  from  a  morbid 
to  a  healthy  condition.  It  had  been  a  com- 
mon sentiment  in  Virginia  from  the  founda- 
tion of  the  government,  that  Slavery  was  a 
"moral,  political,  and  social  evil."  The  minds 
of  our  leading  men,  without  distinction  of 
party  in  Politics  or  Religion,  had  been  anx- 
iously revolving  schemes  for  its  ultimate  ex- 
tinction. If  Southern  men  had  been  left 
alone  with  this  subject,  no  human  sagacity 
can  now  tell  to  what  conclusions  they  would 
have  come  in  process  of  time. 

Under  these  circumstances  Northern  fa- 
natics began  to  throw  fire-brands  amongst 
us.  These  lighted  the  flames  of  insurrec- 
tion, and  the  "panic"  which  ensued  was  felt 
by  the  House  of  Delegates,  which  in  the 
language  of  the  Richmond  Inquirer,  "  broke 
the  seals  which  for  fifty  years  had  imposed 
silence  upon  the  most  delicate  subject  of 
State  concernment."  Statesmen  in  the  halls 
of  Legislation,  Politicians  in  the  columns  of 
Newspapers  and  Philosophers  in  the  acade- 
mies of  Science  entered  the  lists,  and  the 
press  teemed  with  orations,  editorials  and 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


essays  of  all  sizes  from  the  fugitive  sheet  to 
the  ponderous  pamphlet. 

The  Richmond  Whig  said  that  the  debate 
in  the  House  of  Delegates  was  marked  by 
an  eloquence  that  would  have  illustrated  the 
classic  days  of  Athens.  The  column*  of 
the  Inquirer  and  of  the  Whig  and  other 
newspapers  were  illuminated  with  brilliant 
editorials  and  communications.  Professor 
Dew  from  his  retirement  at  William  and 
Mary  sent  forth  a  pamphlet  in  justification  of 
Slavery  marked  by  uncommon  powers  of 
reasoning  and  great  wealth  of  illustration. 
The  gifted  Jessee  B.  Harrison  of  Lynchburg 
responded,  in  the  "  American  Quarterly," 
with  great  eloquence  of  diction  and  in  the 
most  calm  and  philosophical  spirit  of  In- 
quiry. 

This  "  spirit  of  Inquiry"  was  every  where 
abioad  busily  inspecting  the  foundations  of 
Southern  Society,  and  the  result  was  a  gene- 
ral conviction  that  our  peculiar  institution 
was  a  "  Political,  Social  and  Moral  Ne- 
cessity." 

We  do  not  think  that  any  impartial  person 
can  read  these  discussiorw,  (now  when  the 
heat  and  smoke  of  the  contest  has  given 
way  to  a  serene  atmosphere,)  without  seeing 
that  the  Pro-Slavery  advocates  had  the  best 
of  the  argument.  ThcvEmancipationists  ut- 
terly failed  to  bring  forward  any  national 
and  practicable  scheme  of  Abolition. 

The  result  was  a  powerful  reaction  in  the 
public  mind,  which  involved  in  some  degree 
of  the  odium  attached  to  Abolition  every 
scheme  touching  the  colored  race,  however 
innocent  it  may  have  been.  Consequently 
the  bill  for  colonizing  the  free  negroes  which 
passed  the  House  of  Delegates  by  a  decisive 
vote,  was  lost  by  a  few  voices  in  the  Senate- 

The  only  practical  effect  of  all  this  excite- 
ment to  be  seen  in  the  legislation  of  the  ses- 
sion was  a  bill  for  the  suppression  of  seditious 
writings  and  curtailing  the  privileges  of  the 
colored  population  bond  and  free. 

Let  the  misguided  Abolitionists  hear  that, 
and  learn  a  lesson  of  humility  and  practical 
wisdom  and  humanity  from  the  experiment. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Reaction  in  public  sentiment — Essay  on  Sla- 
very by  Professor  Dew — Article  in  Ameri- 
can Quarterly  by  Jesse  B.  Harrison. 

The  effect  of  the  general  discussion  elici- 
ted by  the  debate  upon  Abolition  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  was  a  powerful  reaction  in 
public  opinion  upon  the  subject  of  slavery. 
The  anti-slavery  tide  was  arrested  at  its 
flood,  and  began  rapidly  to  ebb.  The  docu- 
ment which  chiefly  contributed  to  this  result 
was  an  Essay  upon  Slavery,  by  Professor 
Dew  of  William  and  Mary  College,  in  which 
the  whole  subject  was  treated  with  profound 
ability,  and  illustrated  with  great  wealth  of 
learning.  In  this  essay  the  folly  of  a  gene- 
ral emancipation  without  deportation  and 
the  impracticability  of  deporting  so  lart,'e  a 
population  were  clearly  demonstrated. 

Soon  after  the  publication  of  Pro! 
Dews  pamphlet,  an  article  of  signal  ability 
appeared  in  the  American  Quarterly  Review 
based  on  the  speech  of  Thomas  Marshall  of 
Fauquier,  designed  to  shew  that  slavery  was 
the  essent'al  hindrance  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  slave-holders,  with  particular  reference 
to  Virginia.  This  article  was  written  by 
Jessee  Burton  Harrison  of  Lynchburg.  It 
was  reprinted  in  the  form  of  a  pamphlet  and 
generally  circulated  in  Virginia.  Tli< 
diet  of  the  people  after  deliberately  looking 
at  both  sides  of  the  question  as  exhibited  by 
•  •loquent  advocates,  v.a-  decidedly  in 
favor  of  the  general  principles  maintained 
by  President  Dew.  This  reaction  in  public 
sentiment  involved  at  first  the  cause  of  Col- 
onization. The  reason  of  this  was  (ha: 
of  the  over-sanguine  Colonizalionists  had 
put  forward  the  Coloni/.ation  Society  as  com- 
petent to  effect  in  time  the  depoiiati 
the  entire  black  population.  Colonization 
and  Abolition  had  been  thus  confounded  in 
the  public  mind  It  ?'Y/,V  a^aii,.^  ////.«  nspecl 
of  Colonization,  that  Professor  Dew  levelled 
his  tremendous  batteries.  As  Pro!"- 
interpreted  the.  design  of  the  Colonization 
Society,  his  argument  was  unanswerable  and 
fatal.  But  in  truth  the  picture  of  the  soci- 
ety which  he  had  in  view  being  painted  I>y 
over-ardent  Colonizationists;  was  a  inert1  rur- 
ricature.  The  Society  declares  in  its  fumla- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


65 


mental  law  that  its  exclusive  design  is  to  re 
move  from  the  United  States,  such  free  ne 
groes  as  will  consent  to  go.  When  a  maste 
acting  spontaneously  liberates  a  slave,  he  i 
then  a  free  negro  and  within  the  sphere  o 
our  operations.  Any  views  transcending 
these  limits  are  private  opinions  and  shoulc 
never  have  been  incorporated  into  any  offi 
cial  documents  of  the  society. 

If  all  the  Colonization  Societies  and  their 
friends  had  kept  this  law,  the  cause  woulc 
have  escaped  the  mountains  of  prejudice 
which  at  times  have  well  nigh  crushed  it. 
*"  When  the  smoke  of  the  fierce  conflict  ol 
opinion  passed  away,  and  mens  minds  subsi- 
ded into  their  wonted  repose,  the  Coloniza- 
tion Society  of  Virginia  was  seen  under  its 
true  colors  and  its  real  purposes  rightly  ap- 
preciated. Accordingly  it  again  approached 
the  General  Assembly  with  a  respectful  me- 
morial which  was  referred  to  the  Committee 
on  Finance. 

On  the  9th  of  February  1833,  the  Com- 
mittee on  Finance  in  the  House  of  Delegates 
made  a  Report  concluding  with  the  follow- 
resolution : 

Resolved  as  the  opinion  of  this  Committee, 
That  the  several  petitions,  to  wit :  of  the 
auxiliary  Colonization  Society  of  Bucking- 
ham, soliciting  an  appropriation  of  money  to 
aid  the  American  Colonization  Society  in  re- 
moving free  persons  of  color,  and  such  slaves 
as  may  be  voluntarily  emancipated,  from  this 
State  to  Liberia  ;  of  the  American  Society, 
for  colonizing  the  free  people  of  color  of  the 
United  States  in  Africa  or  elsewhere,  setting 
forth  its  objects,  progress,  and  complaining 
of  the  want  of  funds,  to  remove  many  ap- 
plicants residing  in  this  State,  and  mooting 
the  consideration  of  the  General  Assembly ; 
of  sundry  citizens  of  Norfolk  county,  asking 
an  appropriation  of  a  liberal  sum,  annually, 
in  aid  of  the  transportation  of  the  free  peo- 
ple of  color  of  Virginia  to  the  land  of  their 
ancestors  ;  four  petitions  of  sundry  inhabi- 
tants of  Fauquier,  asking  that  an  act  may 
pass,  providing  in  whatsoever  manner  the 
General  Assembly  may  prescribe,  the  an- 
nual appropriation  of  such  sum  in  aid  of  col- 
onizing the  free  people  of  color  of  this  Com- 
monwealth, as  will  comport  with  the  magni- 
tude of  the  subject  and  the  resources  of  the 
State  ;  of  sundry  citizens  of  the  Borough  of 


Norfolk,  praying  a  liberal  annual  appropria- 
tion from  the  Treasury,  in  aid  of  the  Society 
for  colonizing  free  persons  of  Color  in  Afri- 
ca, be  rejected. 

The  fifth  resolution  being  under  conside- 
ration, a  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Gilmer  to 
amend  the  same  by  striking  therefrom  the 
words,  "  be  rejected,"  and  inserting  in  lieu 
thereof  the  words,  "is  reasonable,"  where- 
upon a  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Lewis  that 
the  farther  consideration  of  the  said  resolu- 
tion and  proposed  amendment,  be  indefinite 
postponed ;  and  the  question  being  put  there- 
upon, was  determined  in  the  negative.  Ayes 
57,  noes  57. 

WEDNESDAY,  Feb.  27th,  1833. 

Extract  from  proceedings  of  H.  of  Delegates. 

An  engrossed  bill  making  appropriations 
for  the  removal  of  free  persons  of  color,  was 
read  a  third  time,  whereupon  a  motion  was 
made  by  Mr.  Sims,  that  the  further  conside- 
ation  of  said  bill  be  indefinitely  postponed, 
and  the  question  being  put  thereupon,  was 
determined  in  the  negative.  Ayes  41,  noes 
65. 

A  blank  therein  was  then  filled  ;  and  the 
question  being  put  upon  its  passage,  was  de- 
termined in  the  affirmative.  Ayes  72,  noes 
48. 

On  motion  of  Mr.    Goode,   (seven  of  the 
members  present  concurring,)  ordered,  that 
.he  Ayes  and  noes  upon  the  said  question  be 
nserted  in  the  journal.     The  names  of  the 
gentlemen  who  voted  in  the  affirmative  are : 
Messrs.  Riley,   Colburn,   Gilmer,  Randolph, 
Jarland,  Stuart  of  Augusta,  McCue,  Magne, 
'reston,  Faulkner,  Henshaw,  Miller,  Wilson 
f  Botetourt,  Campbell,  Gholson,  McComas, 
)ickerson,  Pendleton,  Thornton,  Broadnax, 
ones,  Daniel,  Marshall,  Payne,  Barton,  Ear- 
y,  Smith  of  Gloucester,  Watkins  of  Gooch- 
and,    Alderson,    Stewart    of    Greensville, 
Vance,   Roane  of   Hanover,   Mullen,    GofF, 
Kincheloe,  Mayo,  Holleman,  Gregory,  Gal- 
aher,  Berry,  Fry,  Hooe,  Carter  of  Richmond 
nd  Lancaster,  Heiskell,  Hays,  Beard,  Har- 
ison,  Taylor,  Poindexter,  Roy,   Alexander, 
harlton,    Webb,    Cabell,   Collins,  Dunton, 
Harvey,  Parriott,  Leffler,  Robertson,  .Hines, 
Vash,  Brown  of  Preston,  McDowell,  Moore, 


66 


The  Virginian  History  of  jjfncan  Colo  nizut  ion. 


McMullen,    Griffin,    Crump,   McCoy,   Stur- 
man,  Mybery  and  Rutherfoord — 72. 

Arid  the  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  vo- 
ted in  the  negative  are,  Messrs.  Banks, 
(Speaker,)  Booker.  Shell,  Patleson  of  Buck- 
ingham, Yancey,  Bearing,  Cheatham,  Rich- 
ardson, Patteson  of  Chesterfield,  Wilson  of 
Cumberland,  Ritchie,  Stephenson  of  Fayette 
and  Nicholas,  Helms,  Hale,  Woods,  Bruce, 
Sims,  Sloane,  Gravely,  Hanvood,  Dabnc-y, 
Street,  Shands,  Boot  he,  McMahon,  Cline, 
Macfarlane,  Bare,  Newman,  Thompson,  Ste- 
venson of  Spotsylvania,  Conway,  Pegram, 
George,  McCulloh,  Stanger,  and  Brown  of 
Petersburg — 48. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Gholson,  (a  member  vo- 
ting in  the  majority,)  the  fifth  rule  of  this 
house  was  suspended,  for  the  purpose  of  re 
considering  the  vote  just  passing  the  said 
bill :  and  the  question  being  put  thereupon, 
wan  determined  in  the  affirmative. 

The  said  vote  was  then  reconsidered ;  and 
Mr.  Brown  of  Petersburg  offered  a  clause  by 
way  of  a  ryder  to  the  said  bill,  which  was 
read  the  first  and  second  times. 

The  same  is  as  follows:  "Provided  that 
no  payment  shall  be  made  by  the  said  board, 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  for  the  trans- 
portation of  any  other  than  persons  of  color, 
who  are  now  free  and  born,  and  residing 
within  this  Commonwealth,  or  their  descen- 
dants." 

And  the  question  being  put  upon  engross- 
ing the  same  and  reading  it  the  third  time, 
\vas  determined  in  the  affirmative — Ayes  87, 
noes  35. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Goode,  (seven  of  the 
members  present  concurring,)  ordered,  that 
the  ayes  and  noes  upon  the  said  question  be 
inserted  in  the  journal. 

The  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  votec 
in  the  affirmative,  are  Messrs.  Banks  (Speak 
er,)  Riley,  Coleburn,  Booker,  Stuart  of  Au 
gusta,  Miller,  Gholson.  Shell,  Patterson  o 
Chesterfield,  Pcndlelon,  Thornton,  Wilson 
of  Cumberland,  Broadnax,  Jones,  Butcher 
Payne,  Hale,  Woods,  Smith  of  Frederick 
Kailo,  Einmons,  Smith  of  Gloucester,  Wat- 
kins  of  Goochland,  Stewart  of  Greensville 
Bruce,  Vines,  Slonne,  Roane  of  Hanover 
Mailory,  GofT,  Kincheloe,  Mayo,  Gravely 


Solleman,  Gregory,  Galhihcr,  Hanvood, 
HLooe,  Carter  of  Lancaster  and  Richmond, 
Poindexter,  Street,  Roy,  Smith  of  Mason  and 
Jackson,  Goode,  Willey,  Alexander,  Charl- 
ton,  Webb,  Cabell,  Murdaugh,  Collins,  Dun- 
ton,  Harvey,  Liffler,  Dale.  Adams,  Hiner, 
Witcher,  Swanson,  Nash,  Watkins  of  Prince 
Edward,  ShnmN,  Boothe.  McMahon,  Cline, 
McMiillen,  Bare,  Newman,  Thompson,  Grif- 
fin, Stephenron  of  Spotsylvania,  Conway, 
Crump,  Pegram,  McCoy,  Sturman,  Maybery, 
Slanger,  King,  Brown  of  Petersburg  and 
Rutherfoord — 87. 

And  the  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  vo- 
ted in  the  negative  are  Messrs.  Gilmer,  Ran- 
dolph, Garland,  McCue,  Muysc,  Preston, 
Faulkner,  Henshaw,  Wilson  of  Botetourt, 
Campbell,  McComas,  Daniel,  Marshall,  Ste- 
phenson of  Fayette  and  Nicholas,  Helms, 
Alderson,  Vance,  Berry,  Fry,  Ileiskell,  Hays, 
Beard,  Harrison,  Taylor,  Henry,  Sherrard, 
Parriott,  Robertson,  Cachley,  Brown  of  Pres- 
ton, McDowell,  Moore,  Macfarlane,  George 
and  McCulloh— 35. 

The  question  was  then  put  upon  passing 
the  said  bill,  with  the  ryder,  and  was  deter- 
mined in  the  affirmative — Ayes  68,  noes  51. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Broaddax,  (seven  of  the 
member  present  concurring,)  ordered  that 
the  ayes  and  noes  upon  the  said  question  be 
inserted  in  the  journal. 

The  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  voted  i»i 
the  affirmative  are,  Messrs.  Banks,  (speaker,) 
Riley,  Coleburn,  Gilmer,  Garland,  McCue, 
Mayse,  Preston,  Faulkner,  Henshaw,  Miller, 
Wilson  of  Botetourt,  Campbell,  Gholson, 
Shell, Pendleton,  Thornton,  Broadnax,  Jones. 
Marshall,  Layne,  Smith  of  Frederick,  Earle, 
Smith  of  Gloucester,  Watkins  of  Goochland. 
McCamant,  Alderson,  Stewart  of  Greens- 
ville, Roane  of  Hanover,  Mullen,  GofT, 
Kincheloe,  Mayo,  Holleman,  Gregory,  Gal- 
laher,  Berry,  Fry,  Hooe,  Heiskell,  Poindex- 
ter, Roy,  Alexander,  Charlton,  Webb,  Cabell, 
Murdaugh,  Collins,  Dunton,  Harvey,  Leffler, 
Dade,  Robertson,  Hiner,  Nash,  Moore,  Mc- 
Mullen,  Griffin,  Steven.-on  of  Spotsylvania, 
Conway,  Crump,  Pegram,  McCoy  Sturman, 
Maybery,  King,  Brown  of  Peteivl>urir  and 
Rutherfoord — G7. 

And  the  names  of  gentlemen  who  voted  ill 


' 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


67 


the  negative  are,  Messrs.  Randolph,  Booker 
Patteson  of  Buckingham.  Yancey,  Bearing, 
Cheatham,  Richardson,  Patteson  of  Chester- 
field, Wilson  of  Cumberland,  Daniel,  Ritch- 
ie, Stephenson  of  Fayette  and  Nicholas. 
Helms,  Hale,  Woods,  Emmons,  Bruce,  Sims, 
Vance,  Sloane,  Gravely,  Harwood,  Hays, 
Witcher,  Swanson,  Cackley,  Brown  of  Pres- 
ton, Beard,  Harrison,  Taylor,  Street,  Smith 
of  Mason  and  Jackson,  Goode,  Henry,  Wil- 
ly, Sherrard,  Parrott,  Adams,  Watkins  of  P. 
.Edward,  Shands,  Boothe,  McDowell,  Mc- 
Mahon,  Cline,  Macfarlane,  Bare,  New  in  an, 
Thompson,  George,  McCulloh  and  Slanger, 
51. 

Resolved,  That  the  bill  do  pass,  and  that 
the  bill  be  an  act  making  appropriations  for 
the  removal  of  free  persons  of  colour. 

AN  ACT 

Making  appropriations  for  the  removal  of  free 
persons  of  color. 

(Passed  March  4th,  1833.) 

1 .  Be  it  Enacted  by  the  General  Assembly, 
That  the  sum  of  eighteen   thousand   dollars 
shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  appropriated, 
to  be  paid   annually,  for  the   period  of  five 
years,  out  of  any  money  in  the  treasury,  not 
otherwise  appropriated,  for  the  purposes,  and 
in  the  manner  herein  after  prescribed. 

2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  the  gover- 
nor, Lieutenant  Governor,  first  and  second 
Auditors,  for  the   time  being,   shall  be   and 
they  are  hereby  constituted  a  board  of  com- 
missioners, for  the  purpose   of  carrying  into 
effect  the  provisions  of  this  act,  any  two  of 
whom  shall  be  a  quorum  for  said  purpose. 

3.  Whenever  satisfactory    proof    shall  be 
produced  to  the  said  board  of  commission- 
ers, that  any  number  of  free  persons  of  color, 
shall  have  been  actually   transported   to  the 
colony  of  Liberia,  or  other  place  on  the  wes- 
tern coast  of  Africa,  or  that  they  shall  have 
been    embarked   for   transportation   thither, 
from  within  the  limits  of  this  commonwealth, 
by  the    American    Colonization  Society,    it 
shall  be  lawful,  and  the  said  board   of  com- 
missioners are  hereby  required  to  issue  their 
warrant  on   the    treasury    of  this   common- 
wealth, lor  such  sum  or  sums  of  money,  as 
may  be  necessary  to  defray  the  costs  of  trans- 
porting and  subsisting  such  free  persons^of 


color  for  a  limited  time,  on  the  said  coast  of 
Africa,  payable  to  the  authorized  and  accred- 
ited agent  or   agents  of  the  said  American 
Colonization  Society  :  Provided,  that  the  sum 
or  sums  which  may,   from   time   to  'time,  be 
thus  expended,  shall,  in  no  one  year,  exceed 
the    amount  hereby    appropriated    for    such 
year,  and  that  the  free  persons  of  color  who 
may  be  removed,  under  the  provisions  of  this 
act,  shall  be  selected  from  the  different  coun- 
ties and  corporations  of  this  commonwealth, 
in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  revenue  paid 
into  the  public  treasury   by  such   county   or 
corporation,    if  such    Iree   persons  of  color 
can  be  found  in  such  county  or  corporation, 
willing  to  emigrate;  but  if  the  whole  sum  of 
money  hereby  appropriated  to  each   county 
and  corporation,  shall  not  be  annually  applied 
to  the  removal  of  such  free  persons  of  color 
therein,    because    of  their  unwillingness  to 
migrate  therefrom,  then  the  balance  thereof 
may  be  equitably  applied,  by  the  said  board 
of  commissioners,  to  the  removal  of  free  per- 
ons  of  color  from  other  counties  and   cor- 
porations :  And   provided  further,   that   not 
more  than  the  sum  of  thirty  dollars,  shall  be 
allowed  by  said  board  of  commissioners   for 
he  transportation  and  subsistence  as   afore- 
said, of  any  free  persons  of  color,  above  the 
age  of  ten  years,  and  not  more  than  the  sum 
of  twenty  dollars,  for  the  transportation  and 
subsistence  of  any  free  person  of  color  under 
he  said    age  of  ten    years.     And    the   said 
>oard  of  commissioners  are  hereby  required 
o  keep  an  exact  account  of  all  moneys  dis- 
nirsed  under  the  authority  of  this   act,    and 
o  make  an  annual  report  thereof  to  the  next 
jeneral  Assembly,  showing  the  ages  and  sex 
of  such  free  persons  of  color  as  may  be  trans- 
)orted    from    this   commonwealth,    and    the 
Bounties,  cities  or  boroughs  from  which  they 
nay    have    been    respectively   removed  ;   to- 
gether with  such  other  facts  and  suggestions 
as   they   may  deem    interesting    or   proper: 
?rovided,  that  no  payment  shall  be  made  by- 
he  said  board  under  the   provisions   of  this 
ict,  for  the  transportation  of  any  other  than 
persons  of  color  who  are  now  free,  arid  born 
and  residing  j,i  [\\\^  commonwealth,  or  their 
descendants. 

4.  This  act  shall  be  in    force  from  and  af- 
ter the  passage  thereof. 


68 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


The  passage  of  this  act  revived  the  hopes 
of  the  friends  of  Colonization.  The  State 
Society  appointed  a  committee  consisting  of 
R.  G.  Scott  and  others,  to  prepare  and  circu- 
late an  address  with  the  view  of  stirring  up 
the  County  Auxiliaries,  and  calling  the  at- 
tention of  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  to  the 
taking  up  collections  on  the  4th  of  July  to 
relieve  the  embarrassments  of  the  Society  at 
Washington.  The  Rockbridge  society  cele- 
brated its  seventh  anniversary  on  the  4th  of 
July,  and  expressed  its  regret  that  the  bene- 
fits of  the  appropriation  should  have  been 
limited  to  negroes  who  were  free  at  the  time 
of  the  passage  of  the  act.  The  Wheeling 
society  expressed  alike  regret  and  suggested 
a  modification  of  the  Act  of  Assembly,  so 
as  to  allow  the  appropriation  to  be  applied  to 
the  removal  of  all  free  colored  people  with- 
out regard  to  the  time  of  their  emancipation. 
The  Albemarle  society  said  we  are  invited 
to  lend  our  aid  by  the  necessity  of  co-opera- 
ting with  our  State  Legislature  in  carrying 
out  the  purposes  of  this  liberal  appropriation 
of  last  session. 

At  the  anniversary  of  the  Bedford  society, 
on  the  21st  of  July,  sixty  members  were  re- 
ported with  cheering  prospects  of  a  large  ac- 
cession. In  the  same  month  a  new  society 
was  formed  in  Mecklenburg,  after  an  address 
by  A.  W.  Venable.  Like  movements  were 
made  in  other  counties,  but  we  do  not  hap- 
pen to  have  a  minute  of  their  proceedings. 

All  the  indications  now  promised  that  Col- 
onization would  soon  become  the  established 
policy  of  the  State.  The  society  had  recov- 
ered from  the  shock  of  the  events  of  1831-32. 
Up  to  that  time  there  had  been  a  progression 
in  the  emigration  from  Virginia  to  Liberia, 
until  the  number  of  emigrants  reached  to 
293  in  one  year.  Under  the  influence  of 
those  events  the  number  ran  down  to  59  in 
1833  and  to  one  in  1835.  There  having 
been  a  rise  in  1834  by  the  liberation  of  100 
negroes  by  a  gentleman  of  Virginia.  The 
renewed  impulse  given  to  the  cause  in  1833, 
would  probably  soon  have  rolled  the  tide  of 
emigration,  had  not  the  Abolitionists  again 
disturbed  the  peace  of  the  country  by  their 
insane  ravings.  The  Richmond  Whig  com- 
menting upon  the  wild  sheme  of  immediate 
emancipation,  and  the  renewed  attempts  of 
the  Abolitionists  to  excite  hostility  against 


the  Colonization  Society,  thus  refers  to  the 
state  of  public  sentiment  in  1833.  "Ano- 
ther revolution  of  public  sentiment  almost  as 
remarkable  and  much  more  intelligible  has 
occurred  in  the  South  in  respect  to  African 
Colonization.  Its  original  opponents  in  that 
quarter  of  the  Union  have  generally  ground- 
ed their  arms.  Their  opposition  has  been 
subdued  by  reason  and  experience.  They 
have  seen  success  crown  the  undertaking. 
They  behold  the  great  good  it  is  effecting  to 
both  races,  and  they  have  been  convinced 
and  converted.  It  is  for  that  reason  the 
fanatics  have  thrown  themselves  against  it. 
In  expended  progressive  and  permanent  ben- 
efit to  the  human  race,  we  believe  it  the 
master  scheme  of  this  or  any  other  age." 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  sayings  and  doings  of  the  Molitionists. 
Their  furious  war  against  the  Colonization 
Society.       Garrison,    Wilberforce,   Daniel, 
0'  Connell,  John  Tyler,  H.  G.  Otis. 
"  Who  that  has  the  heart  of  a  Christian,  of 
a  patriot,  or  even  of  a  man,  must  not  depre- 
cate any  movements  that  threaten  the  public 
peace,  and  endanger  that  Union,  which  is  our 
strength,  our  happiness,  and  our  glory.  Pro- 
cul,  oh  procul  este  profani,  would  we  exclaim 
to  those  rash  men  who  in  the  delirium  of  im- 
agined philanthropy,  would  kindle  or  fan  a 
flame  that  would  leave  them  (should  heaven 
ever  again  shed  light  upon  their  minds)  only 
to  weep  over  the  fragments  and  ashes  of  this 
grand  and  holy  temple  of  Liberty. 

Rev.  R.  Randolph  Gurley  in  1833. 

In  the  year  1832,  at  the  very  time  that 
some  Southern  men  were  charging  the  Colo- 
nization Society  with  being  an  Abolition  So- 
ciety in  disguise,  William  L.  Garrison,  the 
champion  of  the  Abolitionists,  published  an 
elaborate  indictment  of  the  Colonization  So- 
ciety, containing  the  following  counts,  viz  : 
"  The  Colonization  Society  is  the  friend  of 
the  slaveholder  and  the  apologist  for  slavery ; 
it  is  the  enemy  of  immediate  emancipation  ; 
it  traduces  the  free  colored  people  and  would 
prevent  their  elevation  in  this  country ;  it 
seek.s  to  exile  them  from  their  native  land  ; 
it  rivets  the  chains  of  the  slave  and  quiets 
the  conscience  of  the  slaveholders.  These 
and  other  like  propositions  are  argued  at 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


69 


length  and  the  official  documents  of  the  So- 
ciety and  the  speeches  of  its  advocates  are 
cited  in  proof  of  them. 

Garrison  not  content  with  waging  a  fero- 
cious warfare  against  the  society  in  America, 
followed  Mr.  Cresson  to  England  for  the  sake 
of  counteracting  the.  influence  of  that  gentle- 
man, who  had  commended  the  cause  of  Af- 
rican Colonization  to  the  judgments  and  sym- 
pathies of  the  leading  British  philanthropists. 
In  consequence  of  his  misrepresentations, 
-Wilberforce,  Daniel,  O'Connel  and  others, 
published  what  they  were  pleased  to  call  a 
"  Protest  against  the  American  Colonization 
Society."  In  this  impertinent  document 
they  object  to  the  society  upon  the  grounds 
that  "  It  fosters  and  increases  the  spirit  of 
caste  already  too  predominant ;  widens  the 
breach  between  the  two  races — exposes  the 
free  colored  people  to  practical  persecution 
and  finally  it  is  calculated  to  swallow  up  or 
divert  that  feeling,  as  a  Christian  nation  and 
a  free  country  we  cannot  but  entertain  that 
Slavery  is  incompatible  with  law  the  of  God 
and  the  well-being  of  man.  On  these  grounds 
therefore  they  say,  while  \ve  acknowledge 
the  Colony  of  Liberia  to  be  in  itself  a  good 
thing,  we  utterly  repudiate  the  principles  of 
the  American  Colonization  Society,  which 
in  our  judgment  is  not  deserving  of  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  British  public. 

Signed, 

William  Wilberforce,  Svffield. 

Daniel  0'  Connell     S.  Lushington,  M.  P. 

Tho.  F.  Buxton.         Wm.  Evans,  M.  P. 

Sam.  Gurney.  James  Cropper. 

Geo.  Stephen.  William  Mien. 

This  precious  document  was  paraded  with 
great  effect  in  the  North  and  was  perhaps  an 
encouragement  to  the  mission  of  that  au- 
dacious emissary  of  British  Abolitionists 
(Thompson)  who  dishonored  his  country  and 
disgraced  himself  by  calumniating  Southern 
slaveholders  to  Northern  Abolitionists. 

The  Colonization  Society  has  been  pursu- 
ed by  the  Abolitionists  with  the  most  relent- 
less hostility. 

It  is  a  favorite  theme  of  denunciation  and 
misrepresentation  in  their  newspapers  and  at 
their  anniversaries.  Their  wrath  never  seems 
to  wax  so  hot  as  when  a  Colonizationist  is 
the  object  of  it. 

In  a  tract  issued  by  the  American  Anti- 


Slavery  Society,  now  lying  before  us,  it  is 
objected  to  the  Colonization  Society  that  "  it 
had  its  birth  in  Virginia  and  was  founded  by 
slaveholders ;  that  its  first  President  was 
Judge  Washington  of  Virginia,  that  its  first 
seventeen  Vice-Presidents  were  from  the 
South ;  that  its  managers  were  owners  of 
slaves  ;  that  John  Randolph  spoke  at  its  for- 
mation and  said  that  '  it  tended  to  secure  the 
property  of  the  master  in  the  slave ;'  that 
Mr.  Clay  said,  '  I  am  a  slaveholder  and  con- 
sider that  property  as  inviolable  as  any  other 
property  ;'  that  Wm.  S.  Archer  said  '  the 
Society  involves  no  intrusion  on  property, 
nor  even  on  prejudice  ;'  that  Henry  A.  Wise 
said  '  the  great  original  principle  on  which  it 
is  founded  is  friendship  to  the  slaveholder;' 
that  the  Managers  say  '  we  are  restrained  by 
the  terms  of  our  association  from  making 
emancipation  our  object;'  that  the  rights  of 
masters  are  secure  in  our  eyes ;'  that  it 
would  be  as  humane  to  throw  negroes  over- 
board as  to  free  them  in  this  country  ;  that 
Judge  Washington  told  his  slaves  that  they 
need  not  expect  emancipation  and  soon  after 
sold  fifty-four  of  them  in  New  Orleans ;  that 
the  second  President,  Charles  Carrol  of  Car- 
rolton  held  through  life  and  bequeathed  at 
his  death  a  thousand  slaves ;  that  Mr.  Madi- 
son another  President  left  one  hundred  slaves 
to  his  heirs ;  that  Mr.  Clay  directed  that  his 
slaves  should  be  held  in  bonds  for  twenty- 
five  years  after  his  death  and  then  be  sent 
to  Liberia  ;  that  Colonization  retards  eman- 
cipation because  the  removal  of  the  free 
blacks  enhances  the  value  of  the  slaves ;  and 
finally  that  the  enemies  of  slavery  are  the 
enemies  of  the  Colonization  Society." 

It  would  be  easy  to  fill  a  volume  with  the 
railings  of  the  Abolitionists  against  the  Col- 
onization Society. 

But  these  fanatical  crusaders  were  not  con* 
tent  with  making  war  upon  the  Colonization 
Society.  Their  hatred  extended  to  the  Con- 
stitution and  the  Union  which  opposed  in- 
vincible barriers  to  the  consummation  of  their 
treasonable  projects.  Their  presses  teemed 
with  every  form  of  incendiary  literature, 
from  the  little  primer  in  which  children  were 
taught  that  A.  B.  stood  for  abolition,  to  the 
ponderous  volume  in  which  the  Bible  and 
he  constitution  were  expounded  by  the 
"  new  philosophy." 


70 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


In  July  1835  the  American  Anti-Slavery 
Society  issued  175,000  copies  of  newspapers 
and  pamphlets,  some  of  which  were  illustra- 
ted with  hideous  carricatures  of  Southern 
men,  women  and  children,  brandishing  whips 
and  other  instruments  of  torture  over  crouch- 
ing slaves,  and  exulting  in  the  sufferings  of 
their  helpless  victims.  The  United  States 
mail  was  the  medium  through  which  these 
seeds  of  insurrection  were  sown  broadcast 
over  the  Southern  States.  The  result  was 
an  intense  excitement  among  Southern  peo- 
ple. Meetings  were  called  and  measures 
adopted  suitable  to  the  crisis  in  Richmond, 
Norfolk,  Fredericksburg,  Lynchburg,  and  in 
the  counties  of  Fluvanna,  Augusta  and  Glou- 
cester, &c.  At  the  Gloucester  meeting  John 
Tyler,  then  a  senator  in  congress,  made  a 
powerful  speech.  Insurrectionary  papers 
whenever  found  were  searched  and  burned. 
Retaliatory  measures  were  devised  ;  privi- 
leges hitherto  allowed  to  slaves  were  with- 
drawn, and  a  more  rigorous  policy  adopted. 
The  Richmond  Compiler,  of  the  2nd  of  Au- 
gust, 1835,  said  "  the  Abolitionists  have 
proved  the  worst  enemies  of  the  colored 
race  by  their  ill-judged  interference." 

The  more  conservative  and  patriotic  people 
of  the  North,  disgusted  with  these  revolu- 
tionary proceedings  of  their  fellow  citizens, 
assembled  in  public  meeting  and  assured  the 
South  of  their  sympathy  and  support.  Con- 
spicuous among  them  was  the  venerable  Har- 
rison Gray  Otis  of  Boston,  who  came  forth 
from  his  retirement  and  in  accents  trembling 
with  age,  made  a  speech  in  Faneuil  Hall 
which  covered  him  with  glory.  With  the 
most  luminous  reasoning  he  demonstrate'd 
the  revolutionary  character  of  the  Anti-Sla- 
very proceedings,  and  lifted  up  his  voice  in 
tones  of  such  earnest  remonstrance  and  made 
such  a  patriotic  and  pathetic  plea  for  the 
Constitution  and  the  Union,  as  must  have 
made  a  profound  impression  upon  his  hear- 
ers. In  concluding  he  said,  "  I  witnessed 
the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  and  through 
a  long  series  of  years  have  been  accustomed 
to  rely  upon  an  adherence  to  it  as  the  foun- 
dation of  all  my  hopes  for  posterity.  It  i.s 
threatened,  I  think,  with  the  most  portentous 
danger  that  has  yet  arisen  :  I  pray  it  may  be 
dissipated — that  the  thirteen  stripes  may  not 
be  merged  in  too  dismal  stains  of  black  and 


red, and  that  my  grave  may  close  over  me,  be- 
fore Union  descends  into  her's."  Among  the 
the  personswho  contributed  to  exposethe  per- 
nicious doctrines  of  the  Garrison  School,  the 
name  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Tracy,  the  present 
efficient  Agent  of  the  Massachusetts  Coloni- 
zation Society  should  not  be  omitted.  There 
was  danger  at  one  time  that  a  large  and  in- 
fluential body  of  Christians,  in  New  England, 
would  be  swept  away  from  their  moorings  in 
the  Bible  by  the  desolating  tide  of  fanati- 
cism. Mr.  Tracy  manfully  stemmed  the 
tide,  and  helped  to  bring  out  into  broad  day 
before  the  churches  the  dreadful  fact  that 
the  logical  consequence  of  the  anti-shivery 
doctrine  was  the  most  frightful  anarchy.  The 
party,  however,  soon  split  into  factions  and 
began,  in  Mr.  Tracy's  phrase,  "  to  say  against 
each  other  all  that  need  be  said."  While 
all  this  excitement  was  raging,  the  Coloni- 
zation Society  of  Virginia  was  quietly  pursu- 
ing the  even  tenor  of  its  way.  Not  a  year 
elapsed  without  some  emigration  from  this 
State  to  Liberia,  although  the  number  as  we 
have  seen,  was  reduced  from  '292  in  1831  to 
one  in  1835.  The  contributions  in  money 
were  only  $2,000  in  1834,  and  $3,000  in 
1835,  rising  gradually  in  amount  as  the  ex- 
citement subdued,  until  in  1836  it  reached 
nearly  $8,000.  The  Lynchburg  Society 
said  truly  in  its  report,  "  the  greatest  cause 
which  weakens  the  claims  of  Colonization, 
is  the  infatuated  and  misguided  efforts  of 
that  portion  of  American  citizens  styling 
themselves  Abolitionists." 

The  conservative  ground  taken  by  the 
Colonization  Society  during  these  tromblous 
times  is  well  illustrated  by  the  following 
resolutions  passed  at  its  annual  meetings  in 
1834  and  1835. 

On  the  20th  of  January,  1834,  the  follow- 
ing resolution,  moved  by  Mr.  Maxwell,  was 
passed,  "  while  we  regard  the  attempts  of 
certain  Anti-slavery  Societies  [at  the  north 
to  propagate  their  false  and  fanatical  princi- 
ples within  the  limits  of  our  Southern  States, 
as  dangerous  and  pernicious  in  the  highest 
degree,  we  shall  cordially  welcome  the  co- 
operation of  the  people  of  all  parts  of  the 
Union  in  prosecuting  the  great  enterprise  of 
African  Colonization,  which  honestly  and 
fairly  pursuing  its  single  object,  the  removal 
of  all  free  people  of  color  to  Africa,  operates 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization, 


71 


at  the  same  time  incidentally  to  encourage 
the  emancipation  of  slaves,  by  furnishing 
facilities  for  transporting  them  to  the  colony 
of  Liberia, 

On  the  7th  of  January,  1835,  on  motion 
of  Edward  Colston,  of  Berkeley,  it  was  re- 
solved, that  it  is  not  true,  as  has  been  falsely 
and  injuriously  asserted  by  some  objectors, 
that  the  movement  of  our  Society  is  either 
designed  or  at  all  likely  to  interfere  in  any 
manner  whatever  with  the  rights  of  masters 
over  their  slaves  as  established  by  law,  but 
on  the  contrary,  it  must  rather  tend  to  make 
them  more  secure,  while  it  shall  be  deemed 
expedient  to  retain  them,  and  at  the  same 
time  more  disposeable  for  any  purpose  of 
benevolence  to  which  they  may  be  applied. 

In  this  connection  we  may  appropriately 
/notice  the  withdrawal  of  Gerrit  Smith  from 
the  Colonization  Society  and  the  reasons  as- 
signed by  him  for  this  step. 

"  The  Colonization  Society  has  been  and  is 
now  far  more  interested  in  the  question  of 
slavery  than  in  the  work  of  Colonization — 
in  demolishing  the  Jlnii- Slavery  Society  than 
in  bnilding  up  its  Colony." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Rev,  Mr.  Me  Kenny' s  agency ;  Young  Men's 
Colonization  Society,  Richmond,  and  Jlnti- 
Jlbolition  resolutions  of  Colonization  So- 
ciety of  Virginia.  Death  of  Chief  Justice 
Marshall ;  Resolutions  of  the  Board  of  Man- 
agers on  the  occasion ;  Mr.  Macfarland's 
resolution  and  Mr.  Atkinson's  eulogy  of 
Jefferson,  Madison,  Monroe, Mar  shall,  Fitz 
hugh,  Brodnax.  Election  of  Officers  for 
1836. 

Several  facts  were  inadvertently  omitted 
under  their  proper  dates,  which  may  be  ap- 
propriately introduced  at  this  stage  of  our 
narrative.  In  the  year  1832  a  society  was 
formed  in  Richmond  by  the  young  men  under 
the  auspices  of  Gustavus  A.  Myers,  R.  T 
Daniel,  J.  B.  Macmurdo  and  B.  F.  Watson 

It  was  called  the  Junior  Colonization  So 
ciety.     We  have  no  record  of  its  operations, 
except  the  fact  that  it  issued  an  address  to 
the  young  men  of  the  State,  inviting  them  to 
organize  for  a  like  purpose. 

In  August  of  the  same  year,  the  Rev.  \V. 
McKenny  of  the  Methodist  church  was  ap- 


pointed Agent  of  this  Society,  which  he  ser- 
ved several  years  with  zeal  and  efficiency. 
Soon  after  his  appointment  he  prepared  a 
paper  shewing  the  rise,  progress  and  neces- 
ity  of  African  Colonization,  with  an  appeal 
in  favor  of  the  cause.  One  thousand  copies 
of  this  document  were  printed  by  order  of 
the  Board.  We  regret  that  we  have  not  suc- 
ceeded in  finding  a  copy  of  it  as  it  might  fur- 
nish materials  for  the  illustration  of  our  sub- 
ject. 

In  April  1835,  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of 
Richmond,  friendly  to  the  cause  of  Coloni- 
zation was  held  for  the  purpose  of  devising 
measures  for  carrying  into  effect  resolutions 
of  the  Society  at  Washington  to  raise  $100,- 
000.  It  was  recommended  to  the  Board  of 
Managers  of  the  Colonization  Society  of 
Virginia,  to  endeavor  to  raise  $10,000  of  this 
sum,  to  be  applied  to  the  establishment  of  a 
new  settlement  in  Africa,  to  be  called  New 
Virginia,  and  commending  to  the  confidence 
of  our  citizens  Col.  Hall  an  Agent  of  the 
American  Colonization  Society  in  this  State. 

The  Board,  on  the  8th  of  April,  acceded 
to  the  proposition  and  commended  Col.  Hall 
•as  a  person  who  from  long  experience  and 
intimate  knowledge  of  his  native  State,  would 
be  able  to  present  the  claims  of  the  Society 
in  their  proper  aspect.  At  the  same  time 
the  Board  passed  the  following  resolution, 


The  opposition  of  the  Abolition  Societies 
in  the  Northern  States  to  African  Coloniza- 
tion, ought  of  itself  to  convince  the  people 
of  the  slave-holding  States  that  Colonization 
as  patronised  by  this  Society,  is  entirely  dis- 
connected with  any  project  of  immediate  or 
prospective  emancipation. 

This  was  the  last  occasion  on  which  Chief 
Justice  Marshall  presided. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Man- 
agers on  the  28th  of  October,  1835,  we  find 
on  record  the  following  resolution,  viz  : 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  members 
of  this  Board  do  cherish  with  affection  and 
respect  the  memory  of  the  late  Chief  Justice 
Marshall,  as  well  for  the  many  virtues  that 
adorned  his  character,  as  for  the  countenance 
and  support  uniformly  given  by  him  to  this 
Society. 

At  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Socie- 
ty, which  was  held  in  the  Capitol  on  the  8th 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


of  January,  1836,  the  following  resolution 
was  passed  on  motion  of  Wm.  H.  Macfar- 
land,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  in  common 
with  the  whole  country,  most  deeply  deplore 
the  death  of  John  Marshall,  her  late  illus- 


trious President,  her 
beneficent  Patron. 


wise  Counsellor   and 


We  regret  that  we  have  not  a  cop}'  of  the 
remarks  with  which  Mr.  McFarland  accom- 
panied this  resolution.  This  regret  is  deep- 
ened by  an  allusion  to  those  remarks  in  an 


lively  takes  up  the  lament  of  the  sweet  sing- 
er of  Israel  over  another  father  and  another 
son  slain  together  on  the  mountains  of  Gib- 
boa,  '  How  are  the  mighty  fallen  ;  they  were 
lovely  and  pleasant  in  their  lives  and  in  their 
deatli  they  were  not  divided.'  When  the 
Colonization  Society  was  established,  Mr. 
Jefferson  had  retired  from  public  life.  He 
took  no  active  part  in  any  enterprise  of  a 
public  nature,  except  that  noble  institution 
which  he  left  behind  him  as  a  monument 
more  durable  than  brass.  But  his  corrcspon- 


eloquent  address  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Wil-l  dence  exhibits  him  as  deeply  imbued   with 


liam  Atkinson  in  illustrating  the  proposition 
that  the  scheme  of  African  Colonization  was 
supported  by  our  most  illustrious  statesmen ; 
men  as  well  qualified  as  any  of  their  fellow- 
citizens,  to  judge  of  the  true  interests  of 
Virginia,  ahd  whom  malice  had  never  char- 
ged with  disloyalty  to  their  native  State — 
added,  "  of  the  living,  sir,  it  might  be  invid- 
ious to  speak ;  but  I  dare  not  sir,  on  such  an 
occasion,  omit  to  name  the  Nestor  of  his 
country — that  illustrious  man  who  while  his 
grateful  heart  contemplates  the  expanding 
glories  of  his  native  land,  is  saddened  by  the 
recollection  that  of  the  sages  who  laid  the 
foundation  of  her  greatness,  he  alone  re- 
mains. It  can  be  no  disparagement  of  other 
men  to  name  the  chief  of  living  statesmen, 
the  President  of  the  American  Colonization 
Society,  James  Madison.  Of  our  own  late 
President  (John  Marshall)  it  would  be  unne- 
cessary as  it  would  be  presumptuous  for  me 
to  say  much,  after  the  beautiful  and  touching 
tribute  which  has  been  just  paid  to  his  mem- 
ory by  my  friend  v.ho  immediately  preceded 
me,  (Mr.  Macfarland.)  But,  sir,  I  recollect 
that  he  fell  not  alone.  Almost  at  the  same 
moment  that  Virginia  and  this  Society  were 
deprived  of  the  illustrious  Marshall,  they 
were  called  to  mourn  the  untimely  death  of 
one  (Thomas  Marshall)  who  with  his  name 


and  blood  possessed  also 
lence  ;  a  man  who  twelve 


his  moral  excel- 
months  ago  was 


one  of  the  lights  and  ornaments  of  this  hall ; 
in  a  most  trying  station  manifesting  the  most 
honorable  impartiality ;  always  respected, 
always  confided  in,  always  loved  ;  when  I 
think  of  the  almost  simultaneous  deaths  of 
these  distinguished  men,  my  heart  instinc- 


Colonization  principles,  and  I  am  justified  in 
placing  him  in  the  same  bright  roll  with 
Madison  and  Marshall.  To  these  must  be 
added  another  name  venerable  for  wisdom, 
virtue  and  patriotism — the  name  of  one  who 
was  twice  the  chief  magistrate  of  Virginia, 
and  twice  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  United 
States.  His  early  correspondence  with  Jef- 
ferson, had  impressed  our  principles  deeply 
on  the  understanding  and  heart  of  James 
Monroe.  He  became  President  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  at  the  beginning  of  our  operations. 
All  the  aid  which  it  was  practicable  for  him 
to  give  consistently  with  his  Virginia  princi- 
ples of  Constitutional  construction,  was  cheer- 
fully afforded  during  his  whole  term,  and 
though  not  the  founder  of  the  Society,  it  may 
be  truly  said  that  but  for  him  Liberia  would 
not  have  existed.  Wm.  H.  Crawford  and 
Henry  Clay,  natives  of  our  State,  ceased  to 
be  Virginians  by  residence,  but  they  always 
continued  Southern  men,  and  they  were 
among  the  most  able  supporters  of  the  Colo- 
nization cause.  Among  those  of  our  states- 
men who  devoted  their  talents  to  the  service 
of  Virginia,  but  never  filled  stations  under 

O  ' 

the  Federal  Government,  have  been  many 
who  though  less  known  to  fame  than  their 
compeers,  have  richly  merited  all  the  honor 
due  to  high  talent,  pure  patriotism  and  ster- 
ling moral  principle.  Among  these  our  so- 
ciety has  found  efficient  friends.  I  dan>  net 
pass  unnoticed  Blackburn,  the  orator  of  the 
Alleghany,  whose  wit  has  so  often  shaken 
the  gravity  of  this  hall,  while  his  pathetic 
eloquence  has  moved  the  inmost  soul  of  his 
hearers.  And  how  can  I  forget  Fitzhugh, 
who  take  him  for  all  in  all  approaches  as 


The  Virginian  History  of  Jlfrican  Colonization. 


73 


nearly  as  any  man  who  ever  lived,  the  beau- 
ideal  of  a  Virginia  gentleman.  Especially 
should  I  be  faithless  to  justice  and  to  friend- 
ship, if  I  should  omit  in  this  catalogue  the 
name  of  one  who  from  my  early  childhood 
was  the  friend  of  my  bosom,  and  for  many 
years  my  brother  beloved  in  Christ,  the  name 
of  him  who  four  years  ago  was  the  foremost 
in  pressing  upon  our  Assembly  the  cause  of 
Colonization  as  the  only  safe  policy  for  Vir- 
ginia, the  name  of  Brodnax,  who  by  a  mys- 
terious dispensation  of  Providence  was  cut 
down  in  the  midst  of  his  years  and  of  his 
usefulness,  (too  soon  as  to  our  bleeding  hearts 
it  seemed)  for  his  family,  his  friends,  his 
country,  too  soon  for  this  Society,  too  soon 
for  the  church  of  God,  too  soon  for  all  but 
himself.  He  was  spared  till  those  around 
saw  that  through  the  influence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  he  had  become  ripe  for  Herven,  and 
then  amid  the  triumphs  of  faith  and  hope, 
his  emancipated  spirit  seemed  rather  like  the 
ancient  Prophet  to  be  borne  to  Heaven  in  a 
chariot  of  fire  than  to  suffer  the  common 
doom  of  our  fallen  nature." 

The  sensibilities  of  the  nation  were  pain- 
fully excited  in  May  1836,  by  intelligence 
that  James  Madison  was  ill.  On  the  27th 
of  June  he  dictated  a  letter  to  Professor 
George  Tucker.  The  letter  was  signed  and 
franked  by  himself.  On  the  following  day 
he  died  as  if  in  a  gentle  slumber.  Mr.  Mad- 
ison was  a  strenuous  and  active  friend  of  the 
Colonization  Society.  We  subjoin  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  American  Colonization  So- 
ciety on  the  occasion  of  his  death. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions 
were  unanimously  adopted : 

Amongst  the  illustrious  men  to  \v  horn,  un- 
der Divine  Providence,  the  people  of  this 
great  and  prosperous  Republic  are  indebted 
/or  their  national  existence,  and  for  all  the 
blessings  of  a  wise,  free,  and  happy  form  of 
government,  not  a  name  deserves  to  be  held 
in  more  grateful  remembrance  than  that  of 
James  Madison.  To  virtues  which  would 
have  honoured  the  brightest  character  of 
Rome,  he  added  the  graces  of  the  Christian, 
and  combined  at  once  and  in  the  highest  de- 
gree the  best  attributes  of  the  patriot  with 

10 


the  purity  and  virtues  of  private  life.  With 
a  character  thus  adorned,  and  a  long  life  de- 
voted to  the  service  of  country,  he  has  at 
length  gone  to  receive  the  reward  of  both. 
He  has  descended  to  the  tomb  full  of  years 
and  full  of  honors,  and  amidst  the  universal 
regrets  of  his  countrymen.  Blessed  indeed 
is  the  memory  of  that  man  whose  name  a 
whole  people  rise  up  with  one  heart  and  one 
accord  to  honor.  Participating  as  this  Board 
sincerely  does,  in  the  sorrow  of  their  fellow- 
citizens  for  a  common  loss,  the  mombers  of 
the  American  Colonization  Society  are  call- 
ed upon  in  an  especial  manner  to  mourn  an 
event  which  has  deprived  them  of  the  Pre- 
sident and  honored  head  of  their  Institution, 
his  warm  and  constant  attachment  to  which 
was  in  consonance  with  the  wisdom  and  phi- 
lanthropy which  distinguished  him  through 
life.  In  testimony  therefore  of  the  profound 
veneration  and  grateful  respect  in  which  his 
memory  is  held  by  this  Board, 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Board 
have  heard  with  the  deepest  regret  of  the 
decease  of  their  venerated  fellow-citizen, 
James  Madison,  late  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  President  of  the  American  Colo- 
nization Society. 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Board 
will  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  on  the 
left  arm  for  one  month. 

Resolved,  That  the  next  settlement  which 
shall  be  established  in  the  Colony  of  Liberia 
bear  the  name  of  Madison. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  procured  a  bust  or 
portrait  of  the  deceased,  to  be  placed  in  the 
office  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  Board 
transmit  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  to  the 
respected  widow  of  the  deceased  sage,  with 
the  assurances  of  the  sincere  condolence  of 
this  Board  in  her  great  and  irreparable  loss. 

JAMES  LAURIE, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 
A  true  copy  from  the  minutes : 

P.  R.  FENDALL,  Recorder. 

Subjoined  are  the  letters  of  the  President 
of  the  Board  of  Managers,  communicating 
the  foregoing  Resolutions  to  Mrs.  Madison, 
and  her  answer  : 


47 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


WASHINGTON,  JULY  21,  1836. 

Madam : — The  Resolutions  which  I  have 
the  honor  to  enclose,  were  passed  unanimous- 
ly by  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Ameri- 
can Colonization  Society,  of  which  the  emi- 
nent Patriot  and  Statesman.,  whose  decease 
led  to  their  adoption,  was  the  venerated  Pres- 
ident. On  that  Institution  his  exalted  worth 
shed  a  hallowed  and  benign  influence,  and 
long  and  affectionately  will  his  memory  be 
cherished  by  those  who  were  encouraged  by 
his  opinions  and  aided  by  his  liberality  in  a 
season  of  no  ordinary  difficulty  and  trial. 
And  it  is  animating  to  know  that  his  regard 
for  the  society  and  his  confidence  in  those 
by  whom  its  affairs  have  been  conducted  re- 
mained unshaken  to  the  very  close  of  his 
honourable  and  distinguished  career — and 
were  so  unequivocally  expressed  by  him  in 
his  will. 

By  this  bereavement  we  have  lost  a  tried 
and  unwavering  friend.  The  loss  we  deeply 
deplore.  And  what  citizen  of  this  great  Re- 
public, which  he  did  so  much  to  elevate,  de- 
plores it  not  ?  But  that  loss,  madam,  which 
we  so  poignantly  feel,  must  be  felt  with  an 
intensity  of  which  we  can  form  no  adequate 
conception  by  you — you  who  were-  his  com- 
panion in  the  journey  of  life — you  who  shar- 
ed so  richly  in  the  exercise  of  his  social  and 
domestic  virtues, — his  partner  in  sorrow  and 
in  joy. 

The  Resolutions  enclosed  evince  the  high 
estimation  in  which  the  late  lamented  Presi- 
dent of  the  American  Colonization  Society 
was  held  by  the  Board  of  Managers  of  that 
Institution  ;  and  I  have  been  directed  to  con- 
vey to  you  the  expression  of  our  sympathy 
and  condolence  on  this  melancholy  occasion. 
I  feel  myself  honored  in  being  the  organ 
of  this  communication :  and  embrace  the 
opportunity  of  expressing  individually,  my 
sorrow  for  the  heavy  stroke,  which  in  the 
course  of  Divine  Providence  has  fallen  upon 
you.  May  he  by  whom  that  stroke  has  been 
inflicted,  support  you  under  it !  And  at 
length  (may  the  day  be  distant !)  when  you 
too  shall  be  summoned  hence,  may  it  be  to 


the  enjoyment  of  imperishable  glory  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord! — 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  madam,  &c. 
JAMES  LAURIE, 

President  Board  of  Managers  Am.  Col.  Society. 
Mrs.  DOLLY  P.  MADISON. 

Your  first  communication,  my  kind  friend, 
was  duly  received  containing  "  an  extract 
from  the  Journal  of  the  Board  of  Managers 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society,"  of 
which  you  are  President,  accompanied  by 
your  impressive  and  excellent  letter.  But 
finding  my  incapacity  to  answer  notices  from 
Societies  whose  consideration  and  regard  for 
my  lamented  husband  had  induced  them  to 
favor  me  with  copies  of  their  proceedings  as 
well  as  manifestations  of  their  sympathy,  I 
had  omitted  my  acknowledgments  to  you  ; 
which  I  now  regret,  as  it  appears  from  your 
last  letter  that  some  anxiety  rested  upon 
your  mind  on  the  subject  of  delay.  This  I 
hope  you  will  permit  me  to  remove,  by  an 
assurance  of  the  deep  sensibility  with  which 
I  perused  the  Rsolutions  of  a  Society,  so 
highly  estimated  by  him,  for  its  wisdom  and 
its  philanthropy. 

Yours  with  great  respect, 

D.  P.  MADISON. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  LAURIE. 

Montpelier,  August  11,  1836. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  offi- 
cers of  the  Society  for  the  year  1836,  viz  : 

JOHN  TYLER,  President. 

James  Madison,  James  Pleasants,  William 
Maxwell,  H.  G.  Winston,  Abel  P.  Upshur, 
John  H.  Cocke,  Edward  Colston,  Judge 
Summers,  S.  S.  Baxter,  C.  F.  Mercer  and 
James  M.  Garnett,  Vice-Prcsidents. 

Joseph  Mayo,  Corresponding  Secretary. 

David  I.  Burr,  Recording  Secretary. 

Benjamin  Brand,  Treasurer. 

James  E.  Heath,  John  Hampden  Pleasants, 
Wm.  H.  Fitzwhylson,  N.  Mills,  F.  James, 
H.  A.  Claiborne,  H.  Neilson,  J.  C.  Crane, 
Wm.  H.  Macfarland,  James  Gray,  Gustavus 
A.  Myers,  Majiagers. 

Messrs.  Macfarland,  Claiborne,  Burr  and 
James  were  appointed  a  committee  to  pre- 
pare an  address  to  the  people  of  the  State 
upon  the  principles  and  purposes  of  the  Col- 
onization Society  of  Virginia. 


The   Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


75 


Messrs.  Myers  and  Pleasants  were  appoin- 
ted to  take  charge  of  a  memorial  of  the  Ame- 
rican Colonization  Society,  asking  modifica- 
tion of  the  act  of  March  1833 — said  memo- 
rial being  by  the  late  President,  Judge  Mar- 
shall. 

The  Rev.  Charles  VV-.  Andrews  was  ap- 
pointed Agent  of  this  Society. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  a  meeting  was  held 
in  the  2nd  Presbyterian  Church  at  Richmond, 
and  addresses  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Ch. 
W.  Andrews,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jeter,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Plummer  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wood.  On 
motion  of  Mr.  Andrews  the  following  reso- 
lutions were  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  claims  of 
Africa  to  the  sympathies  of  American  Chris- 
tians as  among  the  most  affecting  claims  ur- 
ged by  the  Heathen  world. 

2.  That  we  hear  with  peculiar  satisfaction 
the  opening  furnished  in  the  good  Providence 
of  God  for  meeting  these  claims,  through  the 
enterprise  of  colonizing  such  of  our  free  peo- 
ple of  color  as  may  be  disposed  to  emigrate. 

3.  That  to  all  human  appearance  the  best 
interests  of  religion  and  humanity  would  be 
promoted  by  the  active  prosecution   of  this 
benevolent  object. 

4.  That  when  this  Society  in  all  its  ope- 
rations is  injurious  to  none,  it  is  especially 
beneficial  to  the  South. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Petition  to  the  Legislature  ;  Report  of  Select 
Committee  of  Jan.  30,  1837;  Extract  from 
Fredericksburg  Arena  ;  Annual  Meeting  of 
1837;  Extract -from  Report;  Speeches  of 
Messrs.  Marshall,  Randolph,  Anderson, 
Smith  and  Maxwell. 

The  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia  peti- 
tioned the  Legislature  of  that  State  at  its 
present  session  for  a  charter.  The  petition, 
together  with  others  on  the  subject  of  Afri- 
can Colonization,  was  referred  to  a  Select 
Committee  of  the  House  of  Delegates. 

On  the  30th  of  January,  Mr.  Watkins,  from 
the  Select  Committee  on  the  subject  of  Afri- 
can Colonization,  made  the  following  report : 
The  committee  to  whom  was   referred  the 
petition  of  the  Board  of  Managers   of  the 


Colonization  Society  of  Virginia,  together 
with  a  petition  of  divers  citizens  of  Frede- 
ricksburg, on  the  same  subject,  have  had  the 
said  petitions  under  their  consideration,  and 
have  come  to  the  following  resolutions  there- 
upon : 

Resolved,  That  so  much  of  the  petition  as 
prays  for  the  passage  of  an  act  to  incorpo- 
rate the  said  society  (but  subject  to  alteration 
and  repeal  at  all  times)  is  reasonable. 

Resolved,  That  so  much  of  the  petition  as 
prays  for  an  amendment  of  the  act  of  1833, 
making  provision  for  the  removal  of  free  per- 
sons of  color  from  this  State,  and  for  a  re- 
moval of  the  restrictions  which  have  hitherto 
rendered  that  provision  unavailing,  is  reason- 
able. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  a  petition  was  pre- 
sented to  the  House  of  Delegates,  by  Mr. 
May,  of  Citizens  of  Petersburg,  for  aid  to 
the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia,  and 
one  by  Mr.  Willis,  of  the  Colonization  Soci- 
ety of  Lynchburg,  asking  aid  from  the  Legis- 
lature. 

"  We  should  deem  it,"  says  the  able  and 
eloquent  Editor  of  the  Fredericksburg  Are- 
na, "  supererogatory  to  enter,  at  this  day,  on 
the  discussion  of  the  merits  of  the  coloniza- 
tion scheme.  Suffice  to  say,  it  is  emphati- 
cally a  Virginia  measure,  and  had  its  origin 
in  certain  resolutions  of  the  Legislature  early 
in  the  present  century — that  it  has  received 
the  support  of  our  most  enlightened  states- 
men and  purest  patriots,  and  that  it  com- 
mends itself  now  to  the  munificent  liberality 
of  the  Legislature,  by  considerations  which 
cannot  be  overlooked  by  any  man  solicitous 
for  the  welfare  of  the  good  old  Common- 
wealth. We  confine  our  views  to  the  scheme, 
as  a  politico-economical  measure,  in  which 
respect  only,  perhaps,  statesmen  may  legiti- 
mately legislate  upon  it.  Not  that  we  are 
insensible  to  the  other  glorious  relations  of 
the  enterprise.  Who,  that  has  a  heart,  could 
view  with  indifference  the  results  that  must 
accrue  to  Africa  herself,  from  the  introduc- 
tion of  civilization  and  Christianity,  through 
its  instrumentality  ?  And  it  is  surely  no  ob- 
ection  to  the  scheme,  that,  affecting  benefi- 
cially our  social  and  political  condition,  it 
passes  from  the  thousands  and  hundreds  of 
thousands,  who  are  its  immediate  beneficia- 


76 


The   Virginian  History  of  African   Colonization. 


rie?,  and  bears  upon  the  destinies  of  a  dis- 
tant continent. 

"  Its  blest  effects  low  reaching  to  the  earth, 
Its  tow'ling  summit  lost  beyond  the  thought 
Of  man  or  angel." 

"  With  respect  to  Colonization  in  Virgi- 
nia, a  new  era  has  dawned.  The  State  So- 
ciety has,  for  the  first  time,  asked  to  be  in- 
corporated, and  prayed  legislative  aid  to  a 
plan  lately  broached  of  founding  a  new  set- 
tlement on  the  coast  of  Africa,  to  be  called 
1  New  Virginia.'  The  memorial  of  the  soci- 
ety, as  well  as  a  petition  from  citizens  of 
Fredericksburg  praying  aid  to  the  cause,  were 
referred  to  a  select  committee,  which  has  re- 
ported favorably.  We  understand  that  a  large 
majority  of  both  Houses  are  disposed  to  do 
something  to  aid  the  society,  and  we  feel 
persuaded,  no  measure  would  be  more  gen- 
erally acceptable  to  the  people  at  large." 

Friday,  February  10.  A  petition  was  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Stuart,  of  citizens  of  the  coun- 
ties of  Rockingham  and  Augusta,  praying 
an  appropriation  by  the  Legislature  in  aid  of 
the  Virginia  Colonization  Society,  and  a  re- 
moval of  the  restrictions  contained  in  the  act 
of  the  General  Assembly  passed  in  1833. 

The  Richmond  Whig  of  February  14,  says : 
The  report  of  the  Select  Committee  declar- 
ing reasonable  the  petitions  for  the  incorpo- 
ration of  the  Virginia  Colonization  Society, 
and  amending  the  act  of  1833  so  as  to  make 
its  provisions  available,  was  agreed  to  by  the 
House  of  Delegates  yesterday,  and  a  bill  or- 
dered. 

A  meeting  of  the  Virginia  Colonization 
Society  was  held  at  the  capitol,  on  Wednes- 
day evening,  January  11,  1837.  The  audi- 
ence was  one  of  the  most  numerous  and  in- 
telligent ever  convened  in  Richmond.  The 
President  being  absent,  Judge  May  was  call- 
ed to  the  chair. 

The  annual  report  was  (hen  presented  and 
read  by  the  Rev.  Chas.  W.  Andrews,  general 
agent  of  the  society. 

After  noticing  the  early  history  of  Africa, 
the  project  of  planting  colonies  there,  con- 
ceived in  1783  by  Granville  Sharpe,  the  foun- 
der of  Sierra  Leone,  the  accessions  in  1791 
to  that  settlement,  of  slaves  taken  by  the 
British  army  in  our  revolutionary  war,  and 


first  settled  in  Nova  Scotia;  the  subsequent 
accession,  about  the  year  1805,  of  the  Ma- 
roons from  Jamaica  ;  the  extension  of  the 
patronage  of  the  British  Government  to  this 
colony  in  1807 ;  and  the  present  number, 
near  30,000,  of  its  present  population,  the 
report  gives  a  brief  history  of  the  American 
scheme  of  African  Colonization.  It  adverts 
to  the  support  given  to  it  by  Mr.  Monroe, 
Chief  Justice  Marshall,  Mr.  Madison,  and 
other  distinguished  Virginians,  and  to  the 
deaths  of  two  who  were  Vice  Presidents  of 
the  Virginia  society — James  Pleasanls,  for- 
merly Governor  of  the  State,  and  Horatio  G. 
Winston.  It  states  that,  prior  to  1828,  two 
legislative  appropriations  in  aid  of  it  were 
made  ;  and  that  though,  in  consequence  of 
the  restrictions  annexed  to  the  act  of  March 
4,  1833,  but  little  benefit  proceeded  from  it, 
the  amount  of  private  donations  had  been 
increased.  "As  far,"  it  adds,  "as  public 
sentiment  can  be  ascertained,  it  is  believed 
that  the  whole  community  are  desirous  of  the 
success  of  this  cause.  Instances  have  oc- 
curred, in  which  all  the  religious  denomina- 
tions of  a  town,  closing  their  respective  pla- 
ces of  worship  on  the  sabbath,  have  assem- 
bled at  one  place,  to  hear  the  claims  of  this 
great  work  of  Christian  charity. 

"  The  amount  of  funds  raised  during  the 
past  year  shows  an  increase  over  former  years 
which  is  truly  encouraging.  The  amount 
raised  in  Virginia  during  the  year  1834  was 
about  $2,000,  in  1835  about  $3,000,  and  in 
1836  the  amount  raised  or  subscribed  is  near 
$8,000.  Of  this,  $1,500  was  from  the  estate 
of  the  late  General  Blackburne,  and  other 
considerable  sums  having  been  paid  to  the 
present  board,  will  not  appear  in  the  account 
of  the  treasurer  of  this  society.  Between 
$300  and  $400,  raised  in  Norfolk,  is  retain- 
ed by  the  auxiliary  society  there,  with  the 
hope  of  increasing  it  to  such  an  amount  as 
will  enable  them  to  send  a  vessel,  with  emi- 
grants to  Africa,  from  that  place. 

"Many  of  the  most  prominent  individuals 
in  different  parts  of  the  State  have  manifest- 
ed a  praiseworthy  zeal  in  promoting  the  in- 
terests of  colonization." 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Marshall,  of  Fauquior, 

Resolved,  That  the  report  of  the   Board  of 


The   Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


77 


Managers  be  adopted,  and  printed  under  their 
direction. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Thomas  Jefferson  Ran- 
dolph, of  Albemarle, 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  society, 
in  common  with  every  member  of  the  com- 
munity, are  deeply  penetrated  with  regret  for 
the  loss  of  their  distinguished  fellow-citizen, 
James  Madison,  late  the  first  vice  president 
of  this  society;  and  that  they  are  called  upon 
to  mention  with  gratitude  his  warm  attach- 

O 

ment  and  munificent  liberality  to  this  institu- 
tion ;  and  that  they  have  heard,  with  pleas- 
ure, the  determination  of  the  parent  society 
to  call  by  his  name  the  next  settlement  which 
shall  be  founded  in  Liberia. 

Mr.  Randolph  said,  having  known  Mr. 
Madison,  sir,  from  my  earliest  childhood — 
having  known  him  in  the  full  power  of  his 
gigantic  intellect,  in  the  employments  of  the 
highest  official  station,  in  the  peaceful  re- 
tirement of  private  life,  in  its  decline  and 
honored  age,  until  he  was  gathered  to  his  fa- 
thers, loved  and  lamented  ;  having,  in  com- 
mon with  my  countrymen,  admired  him  for 
his  talents  and  services;  honored  him  for  his 
patriotism,  and  loved  him  as  a  great  and  good 
man  ;  loving  him  myself  with  a  truly  filial 
affection,  I  shall  make  no  apology  for  present- 
ing this  slight  testimonial  of  respect  to  his 
memory.  In  looking  around  upon  this  nu- 
merous audience,  in  beholding  the  drapery 
of  mourning  for  his  death  still  pendant  from 
the  chair  in  which  you  sit,  I  am  warned  that 
any  commendatory  remarks,  any  attempt  at 
an  appeal  to  your  feelings,  would  be  utterly 
untimed  and  misplaced. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Anderson,  of  Botetourt, 

Resolved,  That  this  society  adheres  to  the 
object  of  its  original  institution,  and  is  en- 
tirely distinct  from,  and  opposed  to,  those 
foreign  and  fanatical  associations  which  seek 
to  revolutionize  the  domestic  relations  of  the 
Southern  States. 

In  support  of  this  resolution,  Mr.  Ander- 
son, after  remarking  on  the  object  of  the 
•'  venerable  patriots,  philantropists,  and  chris- 
lians,  who  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Colo- 
nization Society  ;  on  their  desire  to  melio- 
rate the  condition  of  the  free  negroes,  (the 
most  degraded  portion  of  our  population  ;) 
to  elevate  them  from  their  debased  condition 
to  the  standard  of  enlightened  freemen  and 


citizens  ;  to  afford  an  opportunity  and  hold 
out  an  inducement  to  the  liberal  and  humane 
master,  to  emancipate  his  meritorious  slaves," 
adverted  to  the  effect  of  the  institution  in 
transmitting  to  Africa  "  our  arts  and  sciences, 
our  free,  useful,  and  enlightened  institutions, 
and  our  pure  and  sublime  religion."  The 
orator  then  characterized  the  colonizing 
scheme  as  the  most  effectual  means  of  sup- 
pressing the  horrible  slave  trade.  In  assert- 
ing its  opposition  to  abolition  associations, 
he  used  the  following  language  : 

Sir,  I  had  been  disposed  to  think  that  many 
of  my  Southern  friends  were  attaching  too 
much  importance  to  these  associations  ;  but 
since  their  incendiary  schemes  have  received 
not  only  the  countenance,  but  the  approba- 
tion and  support  of  the  Executive  department, 
of  at  least  one  of  the  first  States  of  this  con- 
federacy, it  is  time  for  the  Old  Dominion,  and 
all  those  who  have  common  interest  with  her, 
to  be  girding  on  their  armor.  Sir,  this  is  a 
controversy  which  cannot  be  settled  by  argu- 
ment. The  honor  and  safety  of  the  South 
require  that  the  first  onset  should  be  met  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet.  In  such  a  contest 
I  do  not  fear  the  result.  In  the  present  cri- 
sis, it  behooves  the  generous  South  to  pat- 
ronize, and  liberally  support,  the  coloniza- 
tion scheme,  for  we  know  the  influence  of 
public  opinion.  It  furnishes  to  our  gallant 
countrymen  in  foreign  lands  the  most  effec- 
tual means  to  repel  the  insolent  slanders  and 
groundless  calumnies  of  abolitionists,  as  has 
bejeji  recently  most  happily  illustrated  by  the 
controversy  between  our  patriotic  and  talen- 
ted Breckinridge  and  a  distinguished  Scotch 
abolitinist.  What  American  can  read  his 
able  and  triumphant  defence  of  his  country- 
men, against  the  false  and  diabolical  attacks 
of  abolitionists,  without  feeling  his  heartburn 
within  him  ?  Sir,  it  is  the  true  policy  as  well 
as  the  duty  of  the  South,  to  patronise  with  a 
liberal  hand  the  colonization  scheme ;  and  I 
hope  that  our  Legislature  will,  at  the  present 
session,  set  an  example  to  her  sister  States 
worthy  of  imitation,  by  making  a  liberal  ap- 
propriation to  this  generousand  nobleschcme 
— au  institution  which  breathes  love  lo  God 
and  peace  and  good  will  to  men. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Smith,  of  Culpepcr, 
Resolved,  That  the    progress   and  present 
condition  of  our  colonies  in  Africa  warrant 


78 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


the  hope  which  \ve  entertain,  that  they  will 
continue  to  flourish  and  promote  all  the  best 
interests  of  Africa,  and  the  whole  African 
race. 

The  eloquent  remarks  of  this  gentleman 
were  closed  as  follows : 

"  Our  sister  Maryland  has  a  magnificent 
appropriation  of  $200,000  devoted  to  this 
great  object;  but  what  have  we  done  ?  No- 
thing, sir  !  no,  nothing  to  which  we  can  ad- 
vert with  pride  and  pleasure.  It  is  true,  Mr. 
President,  we  have  a  standing  appropriation 
of  $18,000  a  year;  but  this  inconsiderable 
sum  is  so  shackled  as  to  be  unavailing.  Let 
the  General  Assembly,  then,  brush  this  obsta- 
cle from  our  path.  So  wide  awake  are  the 
people  to  the  importance  of  colonizing  our 
free  negroes — so  deeply  sensible  of  the  jus- 
tice and  enlarged  benevolence  which  prompts 
their  settlement  on  the  shores  of  Africa,  that 
I  doubt  not  they  would  cheerfully  sustain 
their  delegates  here,  in  freely  dipping  into 
the  public  crib,  in  aid  of  an  object  so  dear  to 
the  head  and  heart,  whether  regarded  as  one 
of  policy  or  humanity;  I,  at  least,  as  the 
honored  representative  of  a  people,  both  en- 
lightened and  benevolent,  would  not  hesitate 
vto  vote  decided  and  efficient  aid. 

"  Mr.  President,  one  more  suggestion,  and 
I  have  done.  The  day  on  which  our  forefa- 
thers first  placed  their  feet  upon  these  shores, 
at  Jamestown,  is  celebrated  as  an  anniversa- 
ry. Let  the  day  on  which  the  first  settlement 
was  made  in  Africa  be  likewise  thus  com- 
memorated. On  that  day,  let  every  minister 
of  God,  throughout  the  Christian  world,  de- 
liver appropriate  addresses,  and  take  up  col- 
lections, in  aid  of  this  great  and  sacred  un- 
dertaking. The  appeal  would  not  be  in  vain. 
.The  sublime  fact  that,  at  the  same  moment, 
throughout  this  broad  land,  the  servants  of 
the  Most  High  were  making  the  same  spirit- 
stirring  appeal,  in  aid  of  this  holy  work, 
would  ol  itself  strike  the  chords  of  sympa- 
thy in  our  souls,  and  be  inevitably  produc- 
tive of  the  sweetest  and  happiest  results. 

"  Sir,  I  could  speak  upon  this  subject  from 
the  rising  to  the  setting  sun  ;  but  I  will  not 
longer  detain  you  and  this  assembly.  I  move 
the  adoption  of  the  resolution  which  I  have 
had  the  honor  to  submit." 

On  motion  of  Mr.  MAXWELL,  of  Norfolk, 

Resolved,  That  the  Managers  of  the  Soci- 


ety be,  and  they  are  hereby,  instructed  to 
take  proper  measures  for  obtaining  a  suita- 
ble tract  of  territory  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
for  the  establishment  of  a  new  plantation,  to 
be  called  New  Virginia;  and  to  be  settled 
by  free  people  of  color,  including  manumit- 
ted slaves,  from  our  own  State,  as  soon  as 
the  necessary  funds  can  be  obtained  for  the 
purpose,  from  the  patriotic  contributions  of 
our  fellow-citizens,  and  the  generous  aid  of 
the  Legislature  of  our  Commonwealth. 

In  offering  this  resolution,  Mr.  MAXWELL 
said,  he  begged  leave  to  offer  a  resolution, 
for  which  the  resolution  which  they  had  just 
adopted,  and  the  eloquent  remarks  which 
they  have  heard  in  support  of  it,  from  his 
friend  from  Washington,  (Mr.  GURLEY,)  had 
most  happily  prepared  the  way,  and  which 
he  should  submit  to  the  meeting  with  great 
pleasure,  as  it  was  in  perfect  accordance 
with  all  the  convictions  of  his  understanding, 
and  with  all  the  feelings  of  his  heart.  It 
was  in  these  words,  [here  Mr.  M.  read  the 
resoluion,  and  then  proceeded.] 

Mr.  President,  I  am  one  of  those  who 
hailed  the  first  establishment  of  the  Ameri- 
can Colonization  Society,  about  twenty  years 
ago,  with  warm,  arid  I  may  say,  with  enthu- 
siastic delight.  I  thought  then,  sir,  as  I 
think  now,  that  the  object  of  the  society — 
the  sole  and  single  object  which  it  had  hon- 
estly avowed,  and  which  all  will  agree  it  has 
most  faithfully  and  honorably  pursued,  which 
was  to  remove  our  free  people  of  color,  with 
their  own  consent,  from  our  country  to  the 
coast  of  Africa,  the  land  of  their  fathers — 
was  worthy  of  all  support,  both  as  it  prom- 
ised to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  emigrants 
themselves,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  libe- 
rate our  land  from  a  part  of  its  population 
which  it  could  well  spare,  and  which  it 
would  in  fact  be  better  without.  And  look- 
ing beyond  the  immediate  object  of  jhc  en- 
terprise to  the  influence  which  it  would  nat- 
urally and  evitably  exert  upon  the  institution 
of  slavery  as  it  exists  in  our  Southern  State.-, 
I  thought  that  the  influence  could  be  only 
salutary  and  benign  ;  for  I  saw  at  once,  sir, 
that  it  could  only  operate — as  we  see  it  ha.- 
in  fact  operated — to  enable  and  encourage 
masters  to  manumit  their  slaves,  simply  by 
removing  all  the  obstructions  and  impedi- 
ments which  had  previously  prevented  them 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


79 


from  doing  it,  which  had  damned  up,  as  it 
were,  "the  genial  current  of  their  souls," 
and  leaving  the  stream  to  flow  on,  in  its  own 

O 

natural  and  proper  channel,  to  the  ocean. 
In  this  way,  I  thought  it  was  obvious  that 
it  must  do  great  good  ;  for  it  must  tend  to 
lessen  at  least,  and  if  it  was  prosecuted  with 
proper  spirit,  might  greatly  lessen,  and  in 
conjunction  with  other  measures,  which  it 
would  perhaps  suggest  an  aid,  might  ulti- 
mately even  remove  entirely  the  whole  of 
thai  enormous  evil  under  which  our  country 
had  so  long  groaned,  and  under  which  it 
groans  to  this  hour.  I  thought  too,  sir,  as  I 
remember  it  was  strongly  argued  at  that 
time,  that  the  establishment  of  colonies  of 
these  people,  at  different  points  along  the 
coast  of  Africa,  would  do  much  to  abolish 
that  most  impious  and  infamous,  traffic,  that 
atrocions  "  piracy,"  as  it  has  been  most 
justly  enacted  and  branded  to  be — the  slave 
trade.  And  I  thought,  moreover,  that  whilst 
we  were  prosecuting  our  enterprise,  we 
should  be  diffusing  the  benefits  of  our  free 
institutions,  and  all  the  blessings  of  our  gra< 
cious  and  glorious  Christianity,  through  that 
dark  and  benighted  region  of  the  world,  with 
the  most  happy  effect. 

"  With  these  views,  sir,  1  rejoiced  with  al 
my  heart  in  the  establishment  of  the  socie 
ty.     And  I  rejoiced  the  more  in  it,  sir,  be- 
cause I  knew  that  it  had  emanted  in  fac 
from  the  counsel  of  our  own  State,  from  a 
resolution   which,   as   we   have  heard,   hac 
been  adopted  but  a  short  time  before,  by  the 
honorable  body  which  holds  its  sessions  ir 
this  hall — by  the  House  of  Delegates  of  ou 
State.     The  society  was  thus  the  creature 
the  child  of  Virginia ;  and  as  they  tell  u 
that  fabulous  Minerva  broke  out  full  arme( 
from  the  head  of  Jupiter,  so  this  fair,  thi 
real  divinity,  I  saw  had  sprung  forth,  not  ex 
actly  full  armed,  (for  she  was  indeed  mos 
peaceable  and  most  amiable  in   all  her  as 
pects,)  but  full-formed,  in  all   her  wisdon 
and  all  her  charms,  from  the  head,  and  from 
the    heart,    of  our   virgin    Commonwealth 
and  I  loved  the  beautiful  daughter  not  on! 

o 

for  her  own,  but  also  for  her  mother's  sake 
"  With  these  sentiments,  sir,  I  have  hear 
from  time  to  time,  with  great  satisfaction,  th 
intelligence  which  we  have  received  of  th 
progress  of  our  cause,  and  of  the  growin 


nd  flourishing  state   of  the  colonies^which 
e  have  heard  this  evening  from  the^report 
hich  has  been   read,  and  which  serve  to 
low  us  what  we  have  done,  and  what  we 
ay   do.      And   I  have    been   particularly 
leased,  sir,  to  see  that  Virginia  has  favored 
nd  fostered  these  colonies,  which  are  in 
act  her  own,  with  the  care  which  she  owed 
lem ;  for  I  cannot  agree,  sir,  in  the  remark 
lat  has  been  dropped,  that  she  has  not  done 
er  part  by  them.     The   charge  indeed  has 
een,    not  unkindly  I  am  sure,   but  still  I 
nust  say  most  unjustly  brought  against  her. 
)n  the  contrary,  I  think,  and  must  say,  that 
e,  the  people  of  Virginia,  have  contributed 
s  liberally  to  them   as  those   of  any  part  of 
le  United  States,  according  to  our  means. 
say  according  to  our  means  ;  for  if  we  have 
lot  given  quite  as  much   as  some   others,  in 
lonations   of  money,  we  are  not  so  rich  as 
ome    others.     We    are    comparatively,    in- 
leed,  if  not  positively,  a  poor  people.     We 
cannot  afford  to  give  as  much  as  those  who 
lave  got  the  wealth  of  the  country  in  their 
lands.     But  according  to  our  ability,  (which 
take  to  be  the  true  measure  of  liberality,)  I 
maintain  that  we  have  given  as  generously 
o  this  cause  as  those  of  any  State  in  our 
Jnion,  even  in  money.     And  we  have  given 
much  more  in  men,  in   manumitted  slaves, 
who  would  have  brought  money  in  the  mar- 
set,  if  their  masters  had  not  nobly  preferred 
iving  them  their  freedom  for  nothing;  for 
nothing  at  least  but  the  generous  and  godlike 
pleasure  of  liberating  them  in  this  way.  And 
we  have  given  some  men  to  these  colonies, 
ir,  whose  value,  whose  services  to  ihem,  have 
been  above  all  price,  and  one,  particularly, 
whom  I  may  mention,   now  no   more,    (for 
lie  died  a  martyr  to  the  cause  of  infant  lib- 
erty in  Africa,)  who  was  worth  more  than 
his  weight  in  gold — I  mean  the  eloquent,  the 
pious,  and  the  gallant  Lot  Carey,  an  emi 
grant  from  this  city,  whose  talents,   whose 
virtues,  and  whose  devotion  to  the  cause  for 
which  he  lived,  and  in  which  he  died,  have 
won  the   admiration  of  all  who  knew  him, 
or  have  heard  of  him  ;   and  whose  name,  sir, 
black  as  he  was,  shall  brighten  one   of  the 
brightest  pages  in  the  history  of  Africa,  and 
of  Virginia  who  gave  him  to  her,  to  the  end 
of  time.     So  our  citizens,  I  say,  (or  many 
of  them,)  have  done  their  duty  to  this  cause  ; 


80 


The   Virginian  History  of  African   Colonization. 


and  some  of  our  utmost  distinguished  men, 
(as  we  have  seen,)  have  signalized  their  at- 
tachment to  it  by  benefactions  and  bequests 
which  are  wortli  infinitely  more  than  the 
mere  money  which  they  involved,  from  the 
association  and  sanction  of  their  memorable 
names. 

And  our  Legislature,  too,  has  done  some- 
thing for  it;  not  as  much,  indeed,  as  I  could 
have  wished  ;  but  still  something  worth  re- 
membering. It  has  given  our  emigrants,  on 
two  different  occasions,  supplies  of  clothes 
and  implements  of  husbandry  ;  and  it  has 
passed,  two  or  three  years  ago,  a  generous 
act  making  a  liberal  appropriation  of  ninety 
thousand  dollars,  payable  in  five  annual  in- 
stalments of  eighteen  thousand  dollars  each, 
to  promote  and  encourage  the  emigration  of 
free  people  of  color  from  our  own  State  to 
Liberia.  It  is  true,  indeed,  as  the  report  has 
reminded  us,  it  unfortunately  clogged  this 
noble  grant  with  conditions,  which  have,  al- 
most nullified  it  in  fact;  but  in  so  doing,  it 
has,  I  am  sure,  unwittingly  defeated  its  own 
design;  and  I  cannot  doubt  for  a  moment 
that  it  will,  at  a  word,  readily  knock  off 
those  inconvenient  shackles  from  the  act, 
and  set  it  free.  And  I  think,  too,  I  may 
venture  to  predict,  and  almost  promise  for 
it,  that  it  will,  at  no  distant  day,  do  still  more 
for  our  aid,  and  something  that  shall  be  al- 
together worthy  of  itself,  and  of  our  cause. 
So  I  think,  sir,  there  is  no  reason  to  com- 
plain that  our  State  has  not  done  its  part, 
and  its  full  part,  with  others,  in  this  good 
work. 

Still  I  must  confess,  and  do,  that  we  have 
not  done  all  that  we  ought  to  have  done, 
nor  the  half,  nor  the  thousandth  part,  indeed, 
considering  the  magnitude  of^the  underta- 
king, and  our  immediate  interest  in  the 

o f 

prosecution  of  it ;  and  I  do  most  heartily 
agree  with  my  worthy  friend  from  Washing- 
ton, that  the  time  is  now  fairly  come,  when 
we  ought  to  increase  our  exertions  in  this 
noble  cause.  The  success  which  has  attend- 
ed our  past  efforts,  and  the  growing  popu- 
larity of  our  enterprise,  do  indeed  warrant, 
and  ought  to  encourage  us  to  put  forth  all 
our  strength  to  accelerate  its  course.  In 
sailor's  phrase,  we  have  got  a  good  ojfing, 
and  we  should  no  longer  hug  the  shore,  but 
launch  out  boldly  into  the  deep,  and  spread 


our  sails  to  the  winds  of  heaven.  The 
ocean,  you  see,  sir,  smooths  his  waves  be- 
fore us,  and  Africa  comes  out  fro  licr 
woods  to  welcome  and  embrace  the  ship 
that  comes  laden  with  her  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, and  with  innumerable  and  incalculable 
blessings  for  her  race,  and  for  all  mankind. 
In  this  spirit,  I  propose,  sir,  in  the  words 
of  the  resolution,  that  we  instruct  our  man- 
agers "  to  take  proper  measures  for  obtain- 
ing a  suitable  tract  of  territory  on  the  coast 
of  Africa,  for  the  establishment  of  a  new 
plantation,  to  be  called  New  Virginia,  and 
to  be  settled  by  free  people  of  color,  inclu- 
ding manumitted  slaves,  from  our  own  Slate," 
&c.  I  call  it  a  new  "plantation,"  sir,  be- 
cause it  was  the  term  originally  applied  to 
our  own  colony,  and  I  wish  our  new  one  to 
be,  as  it  were,  a  slip  from  the  old  stock.  I 
mean,  however,  that  our  plantation  shall  be, 
to  all  intents  and  purposes,  a  State — a 
"free,  sovereign,  and  independent  State/' 
in  all  the  fullest  and  freest  sense  of  the  term  ; 
yet  not  a  solitary  or  single  ono,  but  bearing 
some  such  relation  to  Liberia,  and  to  the 
American  Colonization  Society,  of  course, 
as  our  State  does  to  the  United  States;  or  to 
the  Union,  and  to  the  General  Government  ; 
for  we  must  have,  in  due  time,  a  Union 
there  also  ;  another  constellation,  sir,  if  you 
please,  of  social  stars,  mingling  their  rays 
together  in  another  hemisphere.  This  ia 
the  general  idea,  sir,  which  it  is  not  neces- 
sary, I  suppose,  to  explain  more  particularly 
uat  now.  And  the  reasons  which  rccom- 
Jmend  this  proceeding  arc  plain  and  strong. 
I  shall  not  detain  you,  however,  at  this  late 
hour,  to  state  them  at  large  ;  but  I  will  just 
throw  them  out  as  briefly  as  possible. 

And,  in  the  first  place,  it  appears  to  me 
that,  by  establishing  a  new  and  separate  col- 
ony of  our  own,  we  shall  naturally  feel  a 
new  and  particular  interest  in  its  welfare. 
As  it  is,  indeed,  we  do  not  throw  these  peo- 
ple off  from  lib,  as  aliens  unworthy  of  our 
regard.  We  do  not  throw  them  overboard, 
as  some  seem  to  think,  and  leave  them  to 
swim  for  their  lives.  No,  sir,  but  we  follow 
them  with  our  eyes,  and  our  hearts,  to  that 
distant  shore  ;  and  we  sympathize  with  them 
in  all  their  fortuned  and  their  fates.  But,  as 
things  are,  we  cannot  see  them  quite  so  dis- 
tinctly as  we  could  wish ;  for  we  often  lose 


The   Virginian  History  of  Jlfrican   Colonization. 


sight  of  them  as  they  become  mixed  up  in 
the  mass  of  emigrants  from  other  States.  I 
propose,  then,  to  put  them  down  in  "  a 
suitable  tract  of  territory,"  and  keep  them 
there  together,  that  we  may  .^ee  more  clear- 
ly what  they  are  doing,  and  how  they  are 
going  on,  and  coming  on;  and  brood  over 
them,  as  it  were,  with  our  whole  hearts. 
We  shall  know  them  all  then,  sir,  almost 
individually,  by  their  names,  (which  are  our 
own  names,)  and  look  upon  them,  not  as 
outcasts,  but  as  brethren,  whom  we  might 
be  a  litlle  ashamed,  perhaps,  to  own  for  such 
while  here,  but  whom  we  may  acknowledge 
with  affection,  and  even  pride,  in  their  prop- 
er place.  So  we  shall  certainly  feel  a  strong- 
er interest  in  them  than  we  do  already.  Of 
cours9,  too,  we  shall  enlarge  our  liberality 
to  them.  We  shall  give  more  to  aid  them 
in  going  out,  and  to  set  them  up  in  their 
own  land. 

At  the  same  lime,  our  people  of  color 
themselves,  I  am  sure,  will  like  this  arrange- 
ment. At  present,  we  see,  ihey  are  scat- 
tered about  amongst  others,  and  are  looked 
upon,  it  appears,  with  rather  jealous  eyes,  by 
some  of  them  ;  for  it  seems,  as  we  have  just 
heard,  (and  I  own  I  have  been  a  little 
amused  to  hear  it,)  they  carry  out  with  them 
that  passion  for  governing  which  they  have 
doubtless  caught  from  us,  (though  they 
could  hardly  show  il  here,)  a  inkling  toman- 
age  public  affairs,  and  have  all  things  their 
own  way — only  to  have  them  right.  But 
others,  it  seems,  are  not  quite  willing  to  let 
them  ;  and  thai  is  very  natural,  too.  Well 
then,  sir,  we  will  colonize  them  by  them- 
selves— we  will  set  them  down  there  togeth- 
er ;  and  leave  them  lo  strive  for  the  mastery 
with  one  another;  when  the  most  eminent 
and  ethereal  spirits  amongst  them  will,  of 
course,  mount  up  over  the  rest,  by  the  mere 
buoyancy  of  merit — pretty  much  as  it  is  here 
at  home,  where  the  best  and  wisest,  you 
know,  sir,  are  always  uppermost — and  that 
will  be  all  fair  play,  and  all  exactly  right,  in- 
deed. In  this  way,  then,  we  shall  make  our 
free  people  of  color  more  willing  and  ready 
to  go  out  to  their  new  plantation,  which 
will  be  all  their  own;  and  more  happy  in  it, 
too. 

I  may  add,  that  there  will  be  a  charm  in 
the  very  name  of  our  new  state,  that  will 


make  it  more  interesting  to  us,  and  more  at- 
tractive to  them.  We  shall  call  it,  you  ob- 
serve, sir,  New  Virginia  !  And  who  does 
not  feel  at  once  that  there  is  something 
sweet  and  stirring  in  the  very  sound  of  this 
appellation  ?  I  know,  indeed,  the  poet  has 
said — or  rather  has  made  a  lovesick  damsel 
say — 

"  What's  in  a  name  ?     That  which  we  call  a  rose, 
By  any  other  name  would  smell  as  sweet." 

But,  sir,  I  deny  that  there  is  either  philoso- 
phy or  poetry  in  the  assertion.  On  the  con- 
trary, sir,  I  maintain  that  the  rose  by  any 
other  name  in  Ihe  world  would  not  smell 
half  as  sweet  as  it  does  by  that  very  name  of 
rose  which  belongs  to  it,  and  which  has  been 
associated  with  all  its  beauty,  and  all  its  fra- 
grance, from  our  earliest  memo:y  !  Sir,  I 
appeal  to  the  hearts  of  all  present  on  this 
point.  Who  has  not  felt  the  charm  of  a 
name,  when  linked  with  some  charming  ob- 
ject, lhat  was  still  more  charming  for  its 
sake  ?  So  the  rose  shall  be  the  rose  still ; 
and  wo  will  call  our  new  plantation  New 
Virginia,  in  preference  to  any  and  every 
other  name  that  we  could  find  for  it.  And 
this  name  will  shed  an  interest  over  our  new 
colony,  that  will  endear  it  still  more  to  all 
our  hearts.  We  shall  love  our  New  Virgin- 
ia, sir,  as  we  love  the  Old.  And  these  peo- 
ple, sir,  will  love  it  too;  for  they  also  love 
our  Old  Virginia,  as  well  as  we.  They  go 
out  from  it,  we  see,  with  reluctance,  (with 
rather  more,  indeed,  than  I  could  wish,)  and 
they  look  back  to  it  from  their  new  land 
with  grateful  remembrance.  I  have  myself 
heard,  with  great  pleasure,  the  warm  expres- 
sion of  this  feeling  from  some  of  their  own 
lips,  and  I  have  seen  it  in  the  letters  of  oth- 
ers. No,  happy  as  they  are  in  their  new 
country,  and  glad  as  they  declare  themselves 
lo  be  that  they  have  got  to  it,  still  they  can- 
not forget  Old  Virginia,  but  still  remember 
it,  with  honor  and  affection,  as  their  native 
land.  And  why  should  they  not?  It  is 
true  they  were  once  slaves  here,  (or  their 
fathers  before  them  were,)  but  we  did  not 
make  them  so.  We  did  not  go  out  to  Afri- 
ca for  them.  We  did  not  drag  them  away 
rorn  their  country  and  their  kin.  We  did 
not  fasten  the  chains  of  slavery  upon  them. 
No,  but  they  were  brought  bound  to  our 
doors,  by  Dutchmen,  and  Englishmen,  and 


11 


82 


The   Virginian  History  of  Jlfrican   Colonization. 


Yankees — ay,  sir,  by  the  fathers,  perhaps,  of 
some  of  those  very  abolitionists  \vlio  would 
HO\V  tempt  them  to  their  ruin.  They  were 
sold  to  our  fathers  for  slaves  ;  but  they  fell 
into  the  hands  of  kind  and  gentle  masters, 
who  have  liberated  them,  and  sent  them  back 
again  to  their  own  country ;  and  not  the 
poor  miserable  beings  that  they  were  when 
they  were  torn  away  from  it;  but  loaded 
with  favors,  a  thousand  limes  better  than  all 
the  spoils  of  the  Egyptians,  with  the  arts  of 
civilized  life,  and  with  the  "  unsearchable 
riches"  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  ("  a  pearl," 
indeed,  "  richer  than  all  their"  barbarous 
"  tribes,")  to  "  vindicate  the  ways  of  God 
to  man,"  and  to  show  that  even  the  ruthless 
violence  that  wrenched  them  so  cruelly  from 
their  native  shore,  could  be,  and  should  be, 
converted  into  a  miracle  of  mercy  and  of 
blessing,  by  his  redeeming  and  restoring 
grace.  At  any  rate,  sir,  they  do  love  our 
Old  Virginia,  and  I  trust,  therefore,  will  love 
our  New  Virginia,  and  seek  it  too,  the  more 
for  its  name. 

Adopt,  then,  sir,  the  resolution  which  I 
.submit.  Send  it  forth  to  the  people  of  our 
State,  who  will  receive  it  with  cordial  appro- 
bation. Appeal  to  our  Legislature,  now  in 
session,  who  will  gladly  aid  our  enterprise, 
and  perhaps  endow  our  new  plantation  with 
a  generous  grant.  Address  the  members  of 
the  society,  and  our  fellow  citizens  generally, 
calling  upon  them  for  new  contributions  to 
our  funds  in  behalf  of  this  new  object,  and 
there  will  not  be  a  man,  or  woman,  within 
the  four  corners  of  our  land,  who  will  not 
feel  it  to  be  a  duty  and  a  privilege  to  give 
something,  according  to  ability,  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  colony  which  shall  be  as  a 
mirror  in  which  our  Virginia  shall  see  her 
fairest  face  reflected  back  upon  her,  in  bright- 
er beauty,  across  the  waves  of  the  Atlantic  ; 
and  in  which  all  mankind  shall  behold  the 
grace  and  the  glory  of  her  justice,  of  her 
generosity,  of  her  patriotism,  and  of  her  piety, 
displayed  to  all  the  nations  of  the  earth,  till 
time  shall  be  no  more. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Burr,  the  Recording 
Secretary, 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  highly  appre- 
ciates the  labors  of  their  agent,  the  Rev.  C. 
W.  Andrews,  during  the  last  year,  and  re- 
commends to  the  Board  of  Managers  to  se- 


cure,   if  practicable,    a    continuation    of  his 
valuable  services. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Events  of  1837 ;  Revenue  of  the  Society  : 
Emigration  ;  Effect  of  proposition  to  j>ln»t 
"  Nevj  Virginia"  in  Africa  upon  the  Libc- 
rians  ;  Movements  in  Legislature  of  Virgi- 
nia; Jlnnual  Meeting,  January  1838;  Gov. 
Tyler  s  Jltldress  ;  Speeches  of  Gen.  B<iyl]]  ; 
Jlhx.  Rives;  Mr.  Maxwell  and  Henry  JI. 
Wise. 

The  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Coloni/a- 
tion  Society  of  Virginia,  on  the  17ih  of  Jan- 
uary, 1837,  appointed  a  committee  to  take 
measures  for  carrying  into  effect  Mr.  Max- 
well's Resolution,  to  cstah!i.-h  a  "  new  plan- 
tation" on  the  Coast  of  Africa  to  be  callod 
"  New  Virginia."  The  usual  circulars  to  the 
Clergy  and  petitions  and  memorials  to  the 
Legislature  were  prepared. 

The  news  of  the  project  for  establishing 
"  New  Virginia"  in  Africa,  produced  quite  a 
sensation  among  the  Libcrians,  who  »:xpre>~- 
ed  their  gratification  in  a  public  meeting  and 
at  the  same  time  rebuked  the  Abolitionists 
for  their  efforts  to  excite  the  prejudices  of 
the  Liberians  against  the  Colonization  So- 
ciety. 

The  revenue  of  the  Colonization  Society 
of  Virginia  for  this  year,  was  $4,000,  and 
the  number  of  Emigrants  from  Virginia, 
about  one  hundred. 

On  the  3d  of  January,  1838,  Mr.  Crawford 
presented  to  the  General  Assembly  a  peti- 
tion from  Shonandoali,  asking  that  the  art 
of  1833  might  be  revived  and  amended,  in- 
creasing the  appropriation  in  aid  of  t  lie  Col- 
onization Society  and  placing  its  disburse- 
ment under  the  control  of  the  Virginia  soci- 
ety, and  applying  it  solely  to  the  removal  of 
free  persons  of  color  born  and  residing  in 
this  State.  On  the  23d  of  January,  Mr. 
Rives  from  the  Committee  on  Finance  to 
whom  this  and  other  petitions  were  referred. 
made  the  following  report,  viz: 

"  We  have  regarded  with  pleasing  concern 
the  evidences  of  private  and  public  iniere.-i 
afforded  by  the  number  of  these  petitions, 
and  the  anxious  solicitude  they  display  for 
allev-ating  the  growing  evil  of  a  free  lilnrk 


The  Virginian  History  of  Jljrican  Colonization. 


83 


population  in  the  State.  The  policy  which 
the  General  Assembly  wisely  and  humanely 
established  upon  this  subject  and  has  since 
constantly  favored,  will  scarcely  be  abandon- 
ed under  such  decided  indications  of  popu- 
lar support  and  approbation.  Therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  prayer  of  these  peti- 
tions is  reasonable." 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  was 
held  in  the  Capitol  on  the  10th  of  January 
1838.  The  Hon.  John  Tyler,  President  of 
the  Society  took  the  chair  and  F.  James  was 


frankly  confess  myself — I  did  consider  it  in 
its  incipiency  as  but  a  dream  of  philanthropy, 
visiting  men's  pillows  in  their  sleep,  to  cheat 
them  on  their  waking.  Chief  Justice  Mar- 
shall, with  some  fifteen  others,  were  present ; 
but  that  small  number  exhibited  a  constella- 
tion of  talent.  Henry  Clay  presided,  John 
Randolph  addressed  the  meeting,  and  Win. 
H.  Crawford  was  the  first  president  of  the 
Colonization  Society.  Such  was  the  be«-in- 

O 

ning  of  a  society  which  now  embraces  thou- 
sands of  the  most  talented  and  patriotic  men 


in   the   country.     We   have  been    peculiarly 
President  de- !  fortunate,  gentlemen,  in    having  to    preside 

this   Hall,  one  ?o 


appointed  Secretary. 

Upon  taking  the  chair,  the 
livered  the  following  brief  and  striking  in-  over  our  deliberations,  in 


augural   address,    which   fully   sustained   hi 
reputation  as  a  public  speaker. 

M.  Tyler  on  taking  the  chair  said,  he 
could  not  permit  this,  the  first  occasion  on 
which  it  had  been  in  his  power  to  attend  a 
meeting  of  the  society  since  he  had  been 
elected  its  President,  to  pass  by,  without  ex- 
pressing his  grateful  sense  for  the  honor 
conferred  upon  him.  You  have  appointed 
me,  said  he,  the  successor  of  one  whose 
name  is  destined  to  reach  a  remote  posteri- 
ty— of  one  who,  in  his  private  character  and 
conduct,  furnished  an  exemplification  of  all 
the  virtues.  John  Marshall  was  amono-  us 

o 

as  one  of  us — plain,  unostentatious  and  un- 
assuming, he  left  us  in  doubt  which  most  to 
admire,  his  unaffected  simplicity  of  charac- 
ter, or  his  extraordinary  talents.  Filling  the 
highest  judicial  station — followed  by  the  ad- 
miration of  his  countrymen — exerting  an 
extensive  influence  by  the  mere  force  of  his 
genius,  over  public  opinion — his  name  fa- 
miliar to  the  lips  of  the  highest  and  most 
humble  of  a  people  inhabiting  a  continent, 
he  seemed  alone  to  be  unconscious  of  his 
own  exalted  worth.  To  be  appointed  the 
successor  of  such  a  man,  however  great  my 
own  unworthiness,  is  an  honor  of  which  I  have 
cause  to  be  proud.  The  very  origin  of  the 
Colonization  Society  is,  in  my  memory, 
identified  with  him.  At  its  first  meeting  in 
Washington,  curiosity  led  me  lo  be  present; 
notice  had  been  given  through  the  newspa- 
pers of  the  proposed  meeting  at  Brown's 
hotel,  and  I  was  attracted  thither  by  the  de- 
sire to  hear  what  could  be  said  in  favor  of  a 
scheme  in  which  I  was  short-sighted  enough, 

o  o 

to  regard  as  altogether   Utopian.     Let  rne 


distinguished   for  all  that   can  adorn  a   man, 
as  Chief  Justice  Marshall ;  and   at  the  same 
time  the  privilege  of  acting  in  close  commu- 
nion  with   another   of  those    men  given   by 
God  in  his  especial  goodness,  as  a  blessing 
to   mankind — I    mean    James    Madison,    so 
lately  one    of  our    Vice   Presidents.     I    am 
not   given   much   to  that  idolatry  which   too 
often  puts  fetters  on  the   mind,  leading  it  to 
consecrate    errors    in    opinion    because   ad- 
vanced   and    sustained    by    men    of  exalted 
standing. — Bui  surely  I  may  be  permitted  to 
say,  that  the  opinions  of  two  such  men  con- 
curring,   bear    strong    evidence    of    truth. 
Their  minds  were  of  too   substantial   an   or- 
der to  indulge  in  a  mere  vision.     Their  judg- 
mentswere  too  profound  to  have  been  misled 
by  the  deceptive  lights  of  a  mistaken  philan- 
thropy.    While   the  horizon    of  the   future 
was  clouded  so  that  my  own   limited  vision 
could    not    penetrate    it,    they    stood,    as  it 
were,  on  a  lofty  mountain's  top,  and  a  beau- 
tiful prospect  was  presented  to  their  sight. 
They  saw  the  first  landing  of  the  pilgrims 
on   the    desert    shores    of  Africa — the    busy 
and  the  thriving  rose  up  before  their  sight — 
the  hammer  of  the  artizan  sounded  in  their 
ears — the    hum    of  industry   floated  on  the 
breeze — songs    of  praise    and    thanksgivino- 
came  over  the  distant  waves — the  genius  of 
civilization  had   penetrated  the  wilderness, 
overthrowing  in  its  progress  the  idol  and  the 
altar,  and  rearing  on   their  ruins   temples  to 
the   true   and  only  God.     All   this  they  saw, 
and   all   this  we  now  see.     For  myself,  after 
learning  the  successful  landing  of  the  first 
emigrants,  and  that  they  were  speedily  to  be 
followed  by  others,  all  my  doubts  vanished. 


The   Virginian  History  of  African   Cohmizntion. 


The   reality  was   before    me.     The  seed  was  '•  now  at  work    in    our  own    fair   land  ?     It  is 
planted — spring- time  cameand  itvegetated —  the  antagonist  of  that  which  we  cherish.     It 


harvest-time  and  the  crop  was  abundant. 
But  a  few  years  since  and  no  voice  of  civil- 
i/ation  proceeded  from  Africa.  Now  thou- 
sands of  civilized  beings  have  made  it  their 
home,  and  the  wilderness  may  be  consi- 
dered as  reclaimed.  The  exhibits  annually 
made  to  the  public  of  the  state  and  condi- 
tion of  the  Colony,  are  calculated  to  relieve 
i!ie  mind  of  all  doubt.  The  Colony  is  plant- 
ed, —  advances  with  rapid  strides,  —  and  Mon- 
'»  Africa  what  Jamestown  and 
to  America.  Happily 


invades  our  hearths,  assails  our  domestic 
circles,  preaches  up  sedition  and  encourages 
insurrection.  It  would  pull  down  the  pillars 
of  the  constitution,  and  even  now  shakes 
them  most  terribly, — would  violate  the  most 
sacred  guarantees, — would  attain  its  object 
by  sundering  bonds  which  bind  and  only 
have  power  to  bind  these  States  together: — 
the  bonds  of  affection  and  brotherly  love. 
It  seeks  to  excite  inextinguishubfo  prejudi- 
ces in  the  minds  of  one-half  of  our  people 
against  the  other  half.  It  acts  in  leajur 
iheir  success  is  equally  beneficial  to  all  the  with  foreign  missionaries,  and  gives  open 
Slates.  Nothing  sectional  enters  into  i.  countenance  to  the  people  of  another  hem- 


">viri 


The  same  spirit  actuates  all ;  the  same  poli- 
cy governs  all.  The  free  black  man  is  found 
in  Maine  as  well  as  in  Louisiana.  What 
then  shall  retard  the  onward  march  of  this 
great  cause  ?  Heretofore  it  has  looked  for 
success  to  private  individuals  and  to  the 
state  legislatures.  My  opinion  is  that  it 
should  still  look  to  them.  To  appeal  to 
Congress  for  aid,  is  to  appeal  to  a  body  hav- 
ing no  power  to  grant  it — a  body  of  restric- 
ted and  limited  powers,  and  fettered  b/  the 
terms  of  its  own  creation.  From  that  source 
it  may  get  money,  but  it  will  lose  friends, 
and  friends  are  more  valuable  to  it  than  mo- 
ney. I  would  not  1iave  it  successful  with- 
out the  concurrence  of  the  States.  Our  own 
State  may  be  considered  the  pioneer  in  this 
great  work.  On  this  subject  she  stands 
proudly  pre-eminent.  She  will  doubtless 
do  her  duty.  Policy  and  humanity  go  hand 
in  hand  in  this  great  work  ;  united  in  the 
accomplishment  of  the  same  object,  they 
cannot  fail  to  succeed.  Philanthropy,  when 
separated  from  policy,  is  the  most  dangerous 
agent  in  human  affairs.  It  is  no  way  distin- 


guishable   from    fanatacism. 
sees  not,  understands   not. 


It    hears    not, 
It   is  deaf,  and 


hears  not  the  admonitions  of  truth  and  wis- 
dorn.  It  is  blind,  and  walks  over  prostrate 
victims,  and  amid  the  ashes  of  desolation, 
without  perceiving  that  its  feet  are  stained 
in  blood,  and  that  its  garments  are  discol- 
ored. It  understands  not,  until  the  voice  of 
sorrow  and  lamentation,  proceeding  from  the 
.M'pulchrc  of  man's  fondest  hopes  and  bright- 
e,-t  expectations,  arouses  it  to  conscious- 
ness. And  is  there  not  a  spirit  of  that  sort 


isphere  to  interfere  in  our  domestic  affairs. 
It  is  sectional,  aho_rrihrr  sectional  ;  in  a 
word,  it  is  the  spirit  of  abolition.  From 
this  place  I  denounce  it,  and  this  society 
denounces  it.  The  weapons  which  it  uses 
are  the  weapons  of  slander  and  abuse  : — 
not  as  to  one  sex  or  condition  of  existence 
only,  but  all — all  are  abused  and  slandered 
by  it.  It  labors  to  induce  the  usurpation  of 
a  power  by  Government,  which  would  bn 
attended  by  the  destruction  of  the  Govern- 
ment itself,  in  the  substitution  (if  a  work  so 
disastrous  to  (he  liberties  of  mankind  could 
be  effected)  of  a  consolidated  government — 
a  mere  majority  machine — in  place  of  the 
happy  federal  system  under  which  we  live. 
The  opinion  already  prevails  with  many,  that 
thejgovernment  is  a  unit.and  the  people  a  unit! 
I  care  not  from  whence  they  derive  sanction 
for  this — but  this  I  will  say,  that  whether  such 
sanction  comes  from  the  living  or  the  dead — 
from  men  in  power,  or  men  out  of  power,  it 
is  false  in  theory  and  destructive  in  practice. 
Each  State,  as  to  all  matters  not  ceded  by 
compact,  is  as  sovereign  as  before  the  adop- 
tion of  the  constitution.  What  right  then 
have  the  people  of  one  State  to  interfere 
with  the  domestic  relations  of  any  other 
State?  what  right  to  agitate  in  order  to  af- 
fect their  neighbors  ?  The  reverend  clergy, 
too,  they  whose  doctrine  should  evermore 
be,  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men, 
are  lending  themselves  to  this  pernicious 
work.  They  seek  to  enlist  woman — she 
who  was  placed  upon  the  earth,  as  the  rain- 
bow in  the  heavens,  as  a  sign  that  the  temp- 
est of  the  passions  should  subside.  Woman 


The.    Virginian  Hisluri/  of  Jjj'ricafc  Colonizaiiort. 


85 


is  inndc  an  instrument  to  expel  us  from  the  ; 
paradise  of  union  in  which  we  dwell.  What 
will  satisfy  these  ministers  of  a  gospel  which 
alone  abounds  in  love?  Do  they  wish  to 
christianize  the  Heathen?  to  spread  the 
light  of  the  gospel  over  the  benighted  places 
ol  the  earth  through  the  instrumentality  of 
this  Society,  that  light  may  be  brought  to 
shine  where  no  ray  of  the  gospel  sun  has 
oeer  yet  penetrated  ?  Do  they  want  a  more 
extended  theatre  for  their  labors  than  they 
now  enjoy  ?  We  present  them  one  entire 
quarter  of  the  earth.  We  invite  them  to  go 
with  us  into  the  wilds  of  Africa — to  sit  down 
by  the  side  of  the  black  man — to  teach  him 
to  raise  his  eyes  from  the  earth  on  which 
they  are  bent — to  look  up  to  the  heavens  and 
to  ascend  "  through  nature  unto  nature's 
God."  He  works  most  inscrutably  to  the 
understandings  of  men  ;  the  negro  is  torn 
from  Africa,  a  barbarian,  ignorant  and  idola- 
trous ; — he  is  restored  civilized,  enlightened, 
and  a  Christian.  The  Colonization  Society 
is  the  great  African  missionary  Society.  In 
my  humble  judgment  it  is  worth  more,  twice 
told,  than  all  foreign  missionary  societies 
combined.  Already  it  has  planted  the  cross 
among  the  heathen,  and  kindled  the  fires  of 
civilization  in  the  desert ;  and  that  cross 
will  stand  and  that  light  be  spread  until  a 
continent  be  redeemed.  All  this  is  done 
quietly  and  peaceably  and  with  the  acquies- 
cence of  society.  Charity  dictates  and  pol- 
icy adopts — can  any  messenger  of  the  Sa- 
viour— can  any  lover  of  his  race,  look  upon 
this  picture  without  delight  ?  Will  nothing 
content  him  which  is  not  done  in  violence? 
Has  he  fallen  in  love  with  anarchy,  that  he 
woos  her  so  assidioijsly  ?  Are  envy,  malice 
and  all  uncharitableness  become  assistants 
in  the  ministrations  of  the  altar  ?  Is  frater- 
nal feeling  and  family  peace  become  odious 
in  his  eyes?  But  I  will  dwell  no  longer  on 
these  things.  Our  coarse,  gentlemen,  lies 
plainly  before  us;  we  will  steadily  pursue 
it";  we  interfere  with  no  relation  in  society. 
In  what  seek  to  do  we  are  justified  alike  by 
the  wisdom  of  the  living  and  the  dead,  and 
success  full,  ample  and  entire,  must  crown 
the  enterprize. 

The  annual  report  was  then  read  by  the 
Rev.  C.  W.  ANDREWS,  late  agent  of  the  So- 
ciety, which  on  motion  of  G.  A.  MYERS, 


Esq.  was  accepted  and  ordered  to  be  print- 
ed. - 

General  Bayly,  of  Accomac,  offered  the 
following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  removal  of 
the  free  people  of  color  from  the  United 
States  to  Africa,  with  their  own  consent,  as 
one  of  the  most  efficient  means  of  securing 
their  ultimate  peace,  happiness,  and  pros- 
perity. 

Gen.  Bayly  remarked :  Just  before  I  came 
to  this  meeting,  Mr.  President,  I  was  reques- 
ted to  offer  the  above  resolution  and  advocate 
its  adoption.  Notwithstanding,  I  was  thus 
suddenly  called  upon,  I  did  not  hesitate 
to  comply  with,  the  request ;  for  the  truth  of 
the  resolution  was  too  apparent  to  require 
either  eloquence  or  argument  to  sustain  it. 

The  laws  of  all 'the  slave  holding  states 
permit  emancipation.  It  has  ever  been  the 
policy  of  Virginia  to  allow  .the  master  to  free 
the  slave.  But  since  1806  her  laws  have  re- 
quired all  slaves  thereafter  manumitted,  to 
leave  the  Commonwealth.  Though  our 

O 

laws  require  all  freed  slaves  to  leave  the 
state,  as  a  condition  upon  their  emancipa- 
tion, even  philanthropy  itself  has  not  provi- 
ded an  asylum  forthem  in  the  United  States. 
What  shall  become  of  them?  Stern,  un- 
yielding and  just  policy  demands  that  they 
should  not  remain  in  Virginia.  But  even 
should  she  be  disposed  to  relax  the  rigor  of 
her  laws,  ought  they  to  remain  within  her 
borders?  Shall  they  be  taken  to  the.  free 
states,  even  when  their  laws  permit  it?  We 
are  not  the  enemies  of  emancipation  when 
it  is  voluntary  on  the  part  of  the  master  and 
when  it  can  be  effected  without  injury  to 
individuals  and  society.  But  when  it  has 
been  legally  commenced,  we  desire  to  see 
it  consummated.  This  never  can  be  done 
as  long  as  the  negro  remains  in  America. 
He  never  can  enjoy,  here,  the  high  preroga- 
tives of  a  free  man.  He  may  cease  to  be 
the  slave  of  a  single  individual,  but  he  will 
continue  to  be  the  slave  of  the  community, 
whose  oppressions  will  be  greater  and  whose 
protection  will  be  less,  than  that  of  the  in- 
dividual master.  I  repeat:  In  America, 
the  black  man  never  can  be  free  ! — he  never 
can  have  the  high-born  feelings  of  a  free- 
man,— he  must  ever  be  a  political  and  social 
>lave.  The  shackles  never  can  fall  com- 


S6 


The    Virginian  History  of  African    L'o/ottiznfioti. 


pletely  from  about  him,  until  he  stands  upon 
the  shores  of  Africa. 

If,  therefore,  Mr.  President,  the  negro 
never  can  be  free  in  America,  and  if  free- 
dom be  necessary  to  happiness  and  prosper- 
ity, it  seerns  to  me,  that  all  philanthropists 
should  join  to  bear  him  to  Africa. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  end  aimed 
at  in  the  resolution,  is  not  a  mad  or  fanatical 
one,  to  be  attained  at  the  cost  of  the  pro- 
perty and  life  of  the  slave-holder  and  the 
happiness  and  prosperity  of  society.  The 
end  is  no  visionary  one  to  be  arrived  at  by 
diabolical  means.  At  the  same  time  that  it 
.secures  the  ultimate  happiness  of  the  negro, 
it  does  not  destroy,  but  promotes  that  ol  the 
white  man.  We  arc  not  pursuing  a  phan- 
tom. We  are  not  seeking  an  imaginary  bles- 
sing for  the  negro,  under  the  hypocritical 
pretence  of  discharging  a  -moral  and  reli- 
gious duty,  by  means  which  will  bring  cer- 
tain wo  upon  the  white  man.  Were  such 
our  course,  we  should  expect  to  be  de- 
nounced by  the  wise  and  good — we  should 
expect  to  be  denounced  by  all  such,  as  dia- 
bolical or  mad  ! — We  should  expect  to  bring 
down  upon  ourselves  the  loathing  of  man 
and  the  vengeance  of  God,  who  has  never 
pardoned  evil,  because  even  certain  good 
hath  come  of  it.  What,  then,  must  be  the 
fate  of  him  who  does  palpable  and  certain 
evil,  that  an  ideal  and  improbable  good  may 
come  of  it  ? 

It  will  be  observed,  Mr.  President,  that 
the  resolution  goes  no  farther  than  to  de- 
clare that  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  the 
free  negro  will  be  promoted  by  his  removal 
to  Africa.  It  might  have  been  extended. 
It  might,  with  truth,  have  declared  that  the 
removal  of  the  free  negro  to  Africa,  would 
promote  the  peace,  prosperity  and  happi- 
ness of  the  free  negro  and  the  white  man — 
of  the  slave-holder  and  the  slave.  But,  Sir, 
that  view  is  not  contained  in  the  resolution, 
and  I  forbear  to  comment  upon  it.  I  will 
detain  you  no  longer,  Sir,  for  I  am  sure  the 
resolution  will  meet  with  the  approbation  ^of 
all. 

On  motion  of  ALEXANDER  RIVES,  Esq., 
of  Albemarle,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  considering  the  principle  of 
African  Colonization  as  best  responding  to 
thn  demands  of  Southern  patriotism  and 


benevolence,  and  offering  to  the  temperate 
wisdom  of  all  parties,  and  every  section,  a 
common  ground  of  resistance  against  the 
mischievous  and  reckless  enterprises  of  abo- 
lition, we  regard  it  as  eminently  entitled  to 
the  confidence  and  patronage  of  the  people 
of  Virginia. 

A/ter  some  farther  eloquent  remarks  from 
Mr.  RIVES,  he  thus  alludes  to  the  restriction 
in  the  law  of  Virginia,  of  March  1833,  con- 
fining its  operation  to  people  of  color  who 
were  free  at  the  time  of  its  enactment: 

The  claims  of  this  institution  upon  private 
generosity,  have  not  been  unheeded.  We 
have  many  gratifying  evidences  of  the  cor- 
dial response,  which  a  liberal  and  sagacious 
public,  have,  heretofore,  made  to  our  earnest 
claims  upon  their  support.  But  the  impor- 
tant, and  practical  question  now  arises 
whether  the  spirit  of  the  people  should  be 
reflected  by  their  representatives  in  this 
hall — whether  the  nominal  appropriation, 
heretofore  made  by  Virginia  in  aid  of  these 
objects,  shall  be  continued,  and  rendered 
efficient,  by  t!.e  removal  of  the  restrictions, 
which  have  so  far  defeated  its  expenditure. 
I  am  proud,  Sir,  to  have  occasion  to  bear 
testimony  to  you  of  the  manifestations  of 
popular  solicitude  in  behalf  of  a  renewed 
and  unrestricted  appropriation  to  these  pur- 
poses, which  are  daily  reaching  the  body 
of  which  I  am  a  member. 

Amid  such  cheering  indications  of  public 
favor,  and  such  inspiriting  auguries  of  ulti- 
mate success,  I  feel,  that  I  can  add  no  stron- 
ger motives  of  encouragement  to  increased 
zeal,  liberality  and  exertion,  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  our  enterprise  than  are  found  in  the 
ready  promptings  of  our  own  hearts. 

On  motion  of  SYDJNEYT  S.  BAXTER,  Esq. 
it  was 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  has  heard  with 
great  pleasure  of  the  successful  effort  of  the 
Legislature  and  citizens  of  Maryland  to  plant 
a  colony  in  Africa,  and  that  it  be  recom- 
mended to  the  Board  of  Managers  to  adopt 
such  measures  as  in  their  judgment  shall  be 
best  calculated  to  promote  the  establishment 
of  a  new  colony,  for  the  reception  of  emi- 
grants from  this  State,  as  proposed  at  the 
hist  annual  meeting. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  MAXWELL,  of  Norfolk, 
it  was 


The   Virginian  History  of  African   Colonization. 


87 


Resolved,  That  (he  continued  and  increas- 
ing prosperity  of  our  colonies  in  Liberia, — 
illustrating,  as  it  does,  the  free  and  generous 
spirit  of  our  Commonwealth,  and  displaying 
the  pure  and  philanthropic  genius  of  Chris- 
tianity, in  the.  fairest  and  brightest  manner, — 
is  truly  gratifying  to  all  our  hearts. 

Mr.  Maxwell  said  that  he  had  come  here 
this  evening,  (honestly)  without  intending 
to  address  the  meeting.  Indeed  he  had  re- 
solved, as  he  thought,  not  to  do  so.  But 
alas!  sir,  said  he,  as  you  know,  the  resolu- 
tion of  a  gentleman  not  to  speak,  is  very 
like  that  of  a  lady,  (one  of  those  rainbows, 
sir,  that  you  told  us  about  a  while  ago,)  not 
to  marry  : — a  resolution  which,  however 
wisely  and  firmly  made,  is  very  apt  to  melt 
away  before  the  breath  of  the  first  agreeable 
tempter  that  presents  himself  before  her. 
And  even  so  it  has  been  with  me  on  this  oc- 
casion ;  for  I  find,  sir,  that  I  cannot  resist — 
indeed  I  cannot — the  temptation  to  say  a 
single  word  which  has  been  addressed  to  me 
by  a  nattering  friend,  I  mean  our  late  wor- 
thy Agent,  in  the  kind  allusion  which  he 
has  made  to  me  in  the  report  which  he  has 
read.  For,  he  tells  us  in  it — and  it  is  really 
the  first  time  that  I  have  heard  of  it — that 
there  has  been  a  meeting  in  Liberia  at  which 
mention  has  been  made  of  my  name,  in 
connexion  with  the  remarks  which  I  made 
before  our  society  here,  at  our  last  annual 
meeting,  in  this  hall,  on  moving  the  resolu- 
tion to  establish  a  new  colony  in  that  coun- 
try, to  be  called  New  Virginia.  Those  re- 
remarks,  it  seems,  published  from  the  press, 
and  borne  on  the  wings  of  some  sea-bird, 
(some  ship,)  have  found  their  way  across 
the  Atlantic — undrowned  in  its  swelling  sur- 
ges— and  have  awakened  echoes  in  the 

O 

hearts  of  our  frecd-men  there,  who  have 
sent  us  back  their  cheering  voices,  to  awa- 
ken new  echoes  in  our  hearts  again  this 
evening.  Yes,  sir,  and  I  must  confess  that 
I  feel  myself  not  a  little  flattered  to  hear 
that  my  said  speech  (such  as  it  was)  has 
been  encored  as  it  were,  and  spoken  over 
again  on  that  shore.  I  am  sorry,  indeed, 
that  I  do  not  know  who  the  worthy  gentle- 
men was  who  did  me  the  honor  to  personate 
me  on  that  occasion  ;  but  I  trust  that  he  wa 
some  good  honest  fellow, — and  a  true  Vir- 
ginian to-boot  ;  and  I  hope  also,  sir,  that  he 


was  duly  qualified  to  play  his  part  with  at 
least  as  much  grace  as  the  original  before 
you  at  this  present  time.  But  however  that 
may  be,  I  must  say  that  I  do  feel  truly  grat- 
ified by  this  compliment,  (which  I  know  how 
to  appreciate,)  and  I  will  add,  sir,  by  your 
leave,  that  though  I  am  not  perhaps  without 
some  ambition,  yet  I  shall  never  envy  the 
honors  which  you,  sir,  and  other  gentlemen 
may  acquire,  from  "  the  applause  of  listen- 
ing Senates,"  or  admiring  Houses  of  Repre- 
sentatives, if  I  can  be  known,  both  here  and 
in  Liberia  too,  as  the  faithful  friend  and  con- 
stant advocate  of  this  noble  and  inspiring 
cause. 

Called  upon,  then    sir,   as  I  am,  in  this 
way,  and  bound  in   duty,  as  I  feel  myself  to 

, — like  a  guest  at  a  feast  who  has  just  been 
toasted — to  make  some  acknowledgment  for 
the  compliment  that  has  been  paid  me,  I 
beg  leave  to  give  you  a  sentiment  in  the 
shape  of  a  resolution,  in  these  words :  |  here 
Mr.  M  read  the  resolution,  and  proceeded.] 
I  shall  not,  however,  by  any  means,  attempt 
to  enforce  this  resolution  by  many  words  ; 
for  I  know,  indeed,  that  I  may  safely  trust 
it  to  speak  for  itself.  Sir,  we  all  feel  at 
once  that  we  love  this  generous  cause  in 
which  we  are  engaged,  not  merely  for  its 
own  sake,  but  still  more  for  the  honor  which 
it  reflects  upon  our  State.  For,  it  is  to  her 
counsel,  in  fact,  as  we  choose  to  remember, 
that  our  enterprise  owes  its  origin.  And  it 
is  to  her,  too,  mainly — or,  at  least,  to  emi- 
grants from  her  domain,  that  Africa  owes 
those  new  settlements  which  she  rejoices  to 
see  established  on  her  coast ;  and  which  we 
are  happy  to  hear  are  growing  and  thriving 
as  we  could  wish.  And  we  must  and  do 
feel,  sir,  that  "the  continued  and  increasing 
prosperity  of  those  colonies"  must,  more 
and  more,  "  illustrate  the  free  and  generous 
spirit  of  our  Commonwealth."  For,  it  must 
serve  to  show  to  all  the  world,  that  our  Vir- 
ginia— the  friend  of  Liberty — is  always  nat- 
urally disposed  to  favor  any  and  every  un- 
dertaking that  can  fairly  promise  to  promote 
her  cause — with,  safety  and  advantage  all  con- 
cerned. It  will  show  at  least  that  we — her 
sons  and  daughters — do  not  hold  our  freed- 
men  here  in  their  actual  state,  by  choice, 
but  from  necessity ;  and  that  we  are  ready 
and  willing  to  make  our  half-free  people  of 


The    Virginian  History  of  Jtfricnn    C'olojiization. 


color  (hardly  that)  all  free,  in  the  only  man- 
ner in  which  we  think  it  possible,  under 
circumstances,  that  we  can  make  them  so. 
consistently  with  their  real  welfare,  a.s  well 
as  our  own.  And  it  will  show,  too,  that 
though  we  cannot  suffer  our  bond-men  to  be 
liberated,  or  rather  emancipated,  here — that 
is  to  continue  here — when  we  know  and  feel 
beforehand,  from  actual  and  ample  experi- 
ence, that  it  would  not,  and  could  not,  be 
good  for  them — nor  for  us, — to  have  them 
mingled,  or  rather  confounded,  among  us — 
yet  we  are  ready  and  willing  to  forward  them 
when  fairly  manumitted  by  their  masters,  to 
their  own  father-land — which  is  the  proper 
place  for  them — and  where  they  may  be  free 
indeed.  Ye?,  sir,  and  we  can  rejoice  with 
all  our  hearts,  to  hear  from  time  to  time, 
that  they  are  going  on,  fairly  and  bravely, 
in  their  own  way,  copying  our  free  institu- 
tions, and  all  our  proceedings;  and  we  can 
look  indeed  upon  their  amusing  imitations 
of  our  actions,  as  parents  look  upon  those  of 
their  little  children  before  them — for  we 
know,  sir  that  those  little  children  will,  by- 
and-by  be  men — and  worthy  of  their  sires. 
But,  with  these  sentiments  towards  them, 
we  must  feel  particularly  pleased  to  hear,  as 
we  do,  that  satisfied  and  delighted  as  they 
are  with  their  new  land,  they  yet  continue 
to  cherish  a  grateful  remembrance  of  their 
Old  Virginia  still.  Sir,  the  report  has  told 
us  with  what  joy  they  received  the  intelli- 
gence of  our  intention  to  found  a  new  colo- 
ny in  Liberia,  which  should  bear  her  hon- 
ored name ;  and  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to 
illustrate  their  sentiments  on  this  point,  a 
little  more  strongly,  by  a  letter  which  I  have 
received  myself  from  one  of  them — a  cer- 
tain William  Draper,  formerly  of  our  good 
town  of  Fredericksburg — a  part  of  which  I 
must  beg  leave  to  read  to  you,  (in  spite  of 
its  mention  of  my  speech  again,  which  I 
hope  you  will  excuse  me  for  giving  along 
with  the  rest,)  only  to  show  the  filial  feel- 
ing— the  true  Virginia  feeling,  I  may  say — 
which  beats  in  all  their  breasts.  It  is  en- 
closed, you  see,  sir,  in  an  envelope,  (the 
true  congressional  style,  I  believe  )  and  ad- 
dressed to  me.  It  is  dated  "  Bassa  Cove, 
August  17,  1837,"  and  reads  thus:  "Sir. 
with  much  pleasure  to  me  to  write  you  this 
few  linos,  and  am  in  hopes  that  you  anil  the 


family  are  well.  Sir,  in  reading  one  of  the 
Colonization  Herald  of  Pennsylvania  Socie- 
ty, to  my  great  joy  I  saw  a  piece  Iroin  the 
Christian  Intelligencer ;  the  good  people  of 
my  old  state  are  about  to  settle  a  colony  on 
the  coast  of  Africa.  Myself,  I  being  a  Vir- 
ginian, born  and  raised  in  the  town  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, when  I  saw  that  the  good  people 
of  Virginia  were  about  to  plant  a  colony  in 
this  country,  I  leave  with  you  and  the  friends 
of  the  cause  to  judge  my  feelings.  True  I 
have  been  in  this  country  thirteen  years, 
and  returned  on  a  visit  in  1828.  During  my 
v'sit  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  in 
Norfolk.  Sir,  we  read  your  speech  with 
much  pleasure,  and  we  have  witnessed  all 
that  you  have  said  concerning  us  and  the 
emigrants  from  other  states."  Here  he  re- 
fers to  the  remark  which  I  made  in  it,  that 
it  was  said  that  the  emigrants  from  other 
states  were  a  little  jealous  of  our  colonists 
from  Virginia — accusing  them,  it  seem-,  of 
being  rather  too  fond  of  having  all  things 
their  own  way,  (only  .of  course,  to 
have  them  exactly  right ;)  and  you  shall  see, 
sir,  how  he  confirms  my  words.  "  Jl  num- 
ber of  them  do  not  like  us;  but  theij  carit 
help  themselves.  \Ve  strive  to  do  thnt  ttxtt  i\ 
right,  and  no  more.  We  have  been  the, 
founders  of  almost  all  the  different  settle- 
ments, and  there  is  some  of  us  would  leave 
property  if  we  could  do  no  otherways,  and 
do  all  that  we  can  for  New  Virginia.  You 
may  judge  that  there  is  some  of  us  that 
would  not  be  satisfied  in  no  other  colony 
while  ever  there  was  one  called  New  Vir- 
ginia." Such,  sir,  aFe  the  sentiment 

worthy  of  a  true  son  of  Virginia — which 
beat  in  the  bosom  of  that  man  :  and  not  in 
his  only,  but,  I  am  persuaded,  in  the  bosoms 
of  all  the  colonists  who  have  gone  out  along 
with  him  from  our  state.  And  now,  sir, 
ought  they  not  to  endear  those  colonies  .-till 
more  to  us,  and  encourage  us  to  continue 
our  care  to  them  ;  and  prompt  us,  more  par- 
ticularly, to  execute  the  plan  which  we  have 
conceived,  of  planting  a  New  Virginia  in 
Liberia,  to  extend  and  perpetuate  the  glory 
of  the  Old,  in  that  country,  and  throughout 
the  world,  to  the  end  of  time. 

But,  sir,  we  may  also  rejoice  in  the  pros- 
perity of  these  colonies — and  ought  to  do  so 
still  more — as  it  serves  to  "display  the  pure. 


The   Virginian  History  of  Jlfrican   Colonization. 


89 


and  philanthropic  genius  of  Christianity,  in 
the  fairest  and  brightest  manner" — to  the 
eyes  of  all  mankind.  Sir,  if  it  was  our  Vir- 
ginia that  planted  these  colonies,  it  was 
Christianity,  let  me  tell  you,  that  whispered 
in  her  ear,  and  put  it  in  her  heart  to  do  it. 
It  was  Christianity,  in  fact,  that  planted  our 
old  Virginia  herself,  in  a  former  age ;  and  it 
is  the  same  benignant  Power  that  has  planted 
Liberia — and  that  shall  plant  New  Virginia 
too — in  our  day — for  a  blessing  to  the  whole 
human  race.  It  is  she,  indeed,  sir,  and  not 
woman,  (lovely  as  she  is,  and  dear  to  all  our 
hearts,)  it  is  Christianity,  sir,  that  is  the 
rainbow  of  the  world  ; — uniting  heaven  and 
earth,  and  blending  them  both  brightly  and 
beautifully  together,  in  a  sacred  and  eternal 
covenant  of  peace  and  love.  'Aye,  sir,  and 
you  may  see  that  rainbow  now — spanning 
the  ocean  that  swathes  our  shore — and  re- 
conciling two  continents  that  were  some  time 
strange  and  hostile  to  each  other,  but  are 
now  consenting  and  conspiring  in  this  com- 
mon cause.  Yes,  sir,  America,  (and  our 
Virginia  foremost',)  has  sent  the  gospel  to 
Africa — by  the  hands  of  her  own  sons — by 
men  of  her  own  race  ; — a  noble  compensa- 
tion for  all  the  wrongs  which  she  has  done 
her — and  Africa  has  received  the  grace,  and 
is  satisfied.  So  the  cross  has  indeed  been 
planted  on  her  shore,  (beaming  more  bright- 
ly than  the  sun  ;)  and  it  shall  be  carried  tri- 
umphantly into  the  interior — and  through 
all  her  bounds — by  her  proper  missionaries — 
to  redeem  and  regenerate  the  land.  Yes, 
sir,  and  Christianity  and  Civilization  shall 
walk  together  through  all  the  length  and 
breadth  of  her  dominions — diffusing  their 
blessings  around  them — winning  the  poor 
barbarians  from  their  wild  pursuits  and  past- 
imes, to  all  the  happy  engagements,  and 
sweet  civilities  of  polished  life — and  "turn- 
ing them  from  their  dumb  idols  to  the  living 
God  ; — and  in  the  language  of  sacred  scrip- 
ture, "  the  wilderness  and  the  solitary  pla- 
ces shall  be  glad  for  them  ;  and  the  desert 
shall  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose." 

The  Hon.  HENRY  A.  WISE  being  present, 
was  called  out  by  the  audience  and  address- 
ed the  meeting  as  follows  : 

Mr.  President,  I  find  myself  placed  in  a 
very  embarrassing  situation.  I  have  just 
gotten  out  of  the  cars  from  the  City  of  Wash- 


ington. Upon  arriving  here,  on  a  flying  visit 
with  a  friend  to  this  city,  T  was  for  the  first 
time  informed  that  this  meeting  was  to  be 
held  here  to-night ;  and  being  informed  that 
^ou  were  to  preside,  I  was  tempted  to  attend, 
with  the  hope  of  hearing  what  we  have  all 
listened  to  with  so  much  pleasure,  an  address 
from  you,  sir,  without  the  least  expectation 
that  I  should  be  called  on  to  make  an  address 
myself.  And,  &ir,  I,  a  perfect  stranger  here, 
must  be  pardoned  if  I  am  confounded  by  the 
surprise  of  being  thus  called  on  so  suddenly 
to  address  an  enlightened  audience  like  this, 
here  assembled,  without  the  least  note  of 
preparation,  either  of  thought  or  word,  on  a 
subject  so  great  and  imposing  as  that  of  this 
occasion. 

But,  sir,  my  embarrassment  does  not  pro- 
ceed alone  from  the  want  of  preparation  to 
meet  the  subject  and  the  occasion.  I  feel 
myself  more  embarrassed  by  the  peculiar  at- 
titude which  I  have  for  several  years  past 
assumed  towards  the  Colonization  Society. 
At  the  outset  of  my  career  in  life,  sir,  I  left 
this  my  mother  State,  and  like  many  of  her 
sons,  emigrated  to  the  land  of  the  West. 
There,  in  the  State  of  Tennessee,  I  was  ap- 
pointed the  secretary  of  a  State  Colonization 
Society,  and  I  became  the  zealous  and  active 
friend  and  advocate  of  the  great  original 
principles  of  the  design  to  secure  and  fortify 
the  institution  of  slavery  itself  by  colonizing 
the  free  people  of  color,  particularly  those 
of  the  slave-holding  States,  on  the  shores  of 
Africa.  After  some  years  absence  I  return- 
ed to  this  good  old  Commonwealth,  and  con- 
tinued the  friend  of  colonization  until  the 
first  session  after  I  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States. 

During  the  session  of  1833 — '34,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  parent  society  was  held  at  Wash- 
ington, at  which  there  were  sentiments  open- 
ly avowed  and  proceedings  attempted  which 
alarmed  many  of  the  best  and  oldest  friends 
of  the  cause  with  apprehensions  as  to  ils 
subsequent  effects  and  tendencies,  and  which 
caused  myself  among  others,  to  look  on  it 
then  and  since  with  a  jealous  eye.  You,  no 
doubt,  sir,  remember  the  meeting  to  which  I 
allude.  It  was  the  meeting  at  which  the  no- 
torious Gerret  Smith  daringly  insisted  that 
the  ultimate  object  of  the  Colonization  So- 


90 


The   Virginian  History  of  Jlfrican   Colonization. 


ciety  should  be  to  abolish  slavery  ;  that  the  for  offices  and  their  honors  and  emolument  s 
nonh  should  have  the  control  of  the  society,   another  so  favorable,  I  fear,  will  never  aguin 
because   its  patrons  from   that  quarter  had   occur.     I  regret  to   say,  without  reproaches 


subscribed  most  of  its   funds  ;  forgetting,  by 
the  by,  that  a  single  deed  or  will  of  volunta- 


now  to  any,  that   the  south   was  utterly  un- 
successful, and  defeated   in   obtaining   from 


ry  emancipation  in   the  south   gave   tens   of  Congress  any  declaratory  pledges,  whatever, 


thousands  \nproperty,  where  the  most  zeal- 
ous northern  philanthropists  subscribed  tens 
n  dollars  and  cents  ;  it  was  there  he  openly 
avowed  that  the  time  had  then  come  when 
the  institution  should  begin  to  move  directly 
towards  the  end  he  aimed  at  ;  and,  sir,  it 
was  then  and  there  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Breck- 
enridge  denounced  old  Virginia  as  like  Neb- 
uchadnezzar's image — part  iron  or  brass  and 
part  clay,  and  ready  to  be  broken  in  pieces  ! 
That  meeting,  I  say,  alarmed  me,  sir,)among 
others  of  the  warm  friends  of  this  cause,  and 
has  made  me  stand  aloof  at  least  for  the  last 
our  years,  from  an  active  co-operation  in  its 
great  work.  Up  to  the  present  moment,  in- 
deed, I  have  been  watching  the  tendencies 
of  the  society,  to  see  whether  it  would  be 
safe  for  us  of  the  south  to  participate  in  its 
operations.  I  feared  that  the  sentiments  and 
influences  of  the  Gerret  Smith  parly  would 
pervert  the  society  from  its  original  purposes 
and  ends;  and,  above  all,  I  feared  that  colo- 
nization would  be  made  to  sow  a  seed  of 
disunion  in  the  slave-holding  States,  at  a  time 
when,  soon  after  that  meeting,  the  footsteps 
of  abolition  across  the  Potomac  were  traced 
in  blood. 

The  scenes  of  the  summer  of  1835,  when 
the  flaming  torches  of  abolition  were  hurled 
in  our  midst,  kindling  all  the  combustibles 
of  civil  disorder, — threatening  to  burn  down 
our  very  post-offices  and  to  consume  the 
reign  of  law, — founding  the  bloody  and  sum- 
mary Lynch  code  on  the  cinders  of  its  fires, 
will  not  soon  be  forgotten  in  the  south.  And, 
sir,  it  was,  as  you  well  know,  at  the  session 
of  Congress  immediately  succeeding  these 
awful  scenes,  that  it  was  thought  the  time 
had  come  for  the  south  to  act  in  Congress 

O 

and,  the  time  being  auspicious,  as  I  imagin 
ed,  to  obtain   a  recognition   of  our  guaran- 
tees from  the  friends  of  a  northern  candidate 
for  the  Presidency,  I   moved  certain   resolu- 
tions in  the  House,  in  defence   of  the   insti- 
tutions   of  the    slave-holding    States.     But, 
vithstanding  the   favorable    moment  and 
^  immense  aids  of  ambition  and  avarice 


for  the  securit/  of  its  rights  and  the  protec- 
tion of  its  peace.  The  south  itself  was  dis- 
united, torn,  divided  and  distracted.  It  was 
then  demonstrated  that  it  was  ulierly  impos- 
sible to  unite  a  majority  in  Congress  on  any 
ground  upon  which  the  slave-holding  Stales 
could  safely  stand.  And,  sir,  I  here  proclaim 
in  the  capitol  of  this  slave-holding  State — to 
all  whom  it  may  concern — that  NOW  the  same 
truth  prevail* — the  slave-holder  cannot  rely 
upon  any  ]>o,-iition  of  defence  against  abolition, 
upon  which  a  majority  of  the  Senators  and 
Representatives  of  the  whole  people  of  the  U. 
States  can  be  brought  to  unite!  This  truth 
is  solemnly  confirmed  by  the  discussion  and 
proceedings  now  at  this  moment  agitating  the 
Senate  chamber  of  the  national  capitol,  and 
now  shaking  the  very  pillars  of  the  Consti- 
tution and  the  Union.  Take  it  home  with 
you — all  of  you — and  reflect  upon  it  serious- 
ly and  gravely. 

Where  then  is  our  safety?  In  what  does 
our  security  consist? — Sir,  in  one  thing  alone. 
But  one  principle  of  action  will  save  us  and 
ours  :  union  among  ourselves ! — the  union  of 
the  whole  South ! 
one  man — firmly, 
an  undivided  front — an  impenetrable  pha- 
lanx— uttering  no  threats — throwing  back  no 
denunciations — the  time  of  debating  and 
murmuring  is  past — but  ready  to  act;  and, 
though  a  minority,  yet  a  minority  united  in 
solid  and  solemn  purpose,  can  and  will  deter 
any  majority  which  may  ever  threaten  to  at- 
tack their  peace,  their  property,  their  consti- 
tutional rights,  and  their  lives  !  They  should 
unite  as  brethren,  literally  of  the  same  faith 
and  the  same  fathers,  on  this  vital  question — 
as  men,  women  and  children,  involved  in  one 
and  the  same  common  danger,  and  bound  to 
defend  the  same  common  honor,  interests 
and  rights.  Away,  then,  with  all  pitiful,  petty 
party  divisions,  at  this  crisis  of  our  fate  ! — 
The  man  or  politician  who  now  would  seize 
on  this  fatal  topic  for  personal,  political  or 
party  ends,  should  be  "  anathema  marana- 
tha !"  Let  the  slave-holding  States  but  be 


The   south  must  stand  as 
fixed,    united — presenting 


The   Virginian  History  of  African   Colonization. 


91 


united  on  this  question,  so  infinitely  above  I  prejudices  and  passions  the  most  dangerous, 
all  party  strife,  and  they  have  nothing  to  fear  because  most  fanatical,  to  release  a  portion 
against  all  the  world  combined.  i  of  mankind  from  an  alleged  cruel  and  op- 

Sir,  these  were  the  reasons — the  fear  that  pressive  bondage  ;  inflames  and  agitates  the 
the  abolition  party  in  the  parent  society  might  public  mind,  by  threatening  to  demolish  all 
succeed  in  perverting  colonization  from  its  established  social  relations;  arouses  a  reli- 


original  design,  coupled  with  the  strongest 
desire  and  conviction  that  nothing  should  be 
permitted  to  divide  the  south — which  have 
caused  me  for  a  time  to  withdraw  my  humble 
countenance  and  support  from  this  cause.  I 
am  even  now  somewhat  skittish,  I  confess, 
but  Gerret  Smith,  who  showed  the  cloven 
foot  but  partially  in  1833 — '34,  has  since 
been  constrained  to  exhibit  himself  in  his 
true  and  glaring  colors  of  an  abolitionist — 
his  party  has  signally  failed  to  swerve  the 
Colonization  Society  from  its  first  princi- 
ples— they  have  separated  themselves  from  it 
and  joined  to  their  own  idols — they  have 
openly  declared  war  against  colonization, 
and  their  hostility  now  tends  to  drive  the 
Colonization  Society,  if  it  ever  began  to  de- 
sert them,  back  to  its  original  principles  and 
plans  of  operation,  and  to  keep  it  pressed 
close  to  those  walls  of  safety.  This  4ias  al- 
most, if  not  altogether,  allayed  my  fears  and 
revived  my  hopes  concerning  the  great  cause. 
The  line  of  demarcation  is  now  too  strongly 
drawn,  I  hope,  between  colonization  and 
abolition  ever  to  be  crossed.  Their  princi- 
ples are  diametrically  opposed  to  each  other, 
and  their  warfare  will  tend  to  press  each  to 
occupy  its  appropriate  ground  and  position. 
The  Colonization  Society  must  now  maintain 
that  great  original  principle  upon  which  it 
was  founded  : — "  Friendship  to  the  SLAVE- 
HOLDER." Never  let  it  be  forgotten  or  de- 
parted from.  It  stands  in  direct  contrast  to 
that  upon  which,  according  to  their  own  pre- 
tensions, and  the  construction  of  charity, 
the  abolitionists  have  founded  their  society — 
"  Philanthropy  to  the  SLAVE  !" 

It  is  very  obvious,  sir,  that  these  two  prin- 
ciples, as  interpreted  by  the  respective  socie- 
ties, and  applied  to  their  actual  operations, 
tend  to  very  different  and  opposite  results. 
The  abolition  society  denounces  t-lavery  as  a 
sin;  summons  the  abstract  principles  of  right 

and  justice,  and  an  imaginary  law  of  Hen.  holder  with  confidence,  and  addresses  itself 
ven,  to  destroy  the  most  ho'y  obligations  of ;  alone  to  his  affections;  removes  the  enemies 
political  right  and  justice,  founded  upon  con-  of  his  peace  and  safety  ;  guards  and  renders 
stitutional  compact  among  men;  appeals  to  safe  the  title  of  his  property  and  its  enjoy- 


gious  zeal  in  a  crusade  against  the  peace 
and  order  and  union  of  a  nation  ;  teaches 
and  preaches  insurrection  to  the  slave  ;  en- 
courages Lynch-Iaw,  and  hallows  the  vic- 
tims of  its  penalties  with  the  glory  of  mar- 
tyrdom ;  calumniates  and  cuises  the  slave- 
holder;  hurls  its  incendiarism  against  his 
life:  attacks  and  attempts  to  render  unsafe 
the  institution  of  slavery,  and  thereby  tight- 
ens the  fetters  of  the  slave  and  makes  his 
chains  more  galling;  opposes  the  coloniza- 
tion of  the  free-man  of  color  in  a  land  where 
the  black  man  may  be  the  fellow  of  man, 
and  advances  the  horrible  amalgamation  of 
him,  here  in  the  land  of  his  degradation,  with 
those  to  whom  his  mere  association  is  con- 
tamination the  most  abhorrent  and  revolting! 
The  Colonization  Society  sacredly  regards 
slavery  as  a  civil  institution  of  the  country, 
which,  upon  the  principle  of  the  lesser  yield- 
ing to  the  greater  good,  cannot  be  attacked 
by  the  law  of  humanity,  and  must  necessa- 
rily be  tolerated  and  sustained  from  motives 
and  reasons  of  policy ;  defends  all  the  eter- 
nal and  immutable  principles  of  right,  and 
religiously  promotes  the  obvious  decrees  of 
}Ieayen,  whilst  it  faithfully  obeys  the  para- 
mount laws  of  the  State;  appeals  to  the  rea- 
son and  enlightened  consciences  of  men, 
and  to  that  cairn  and  peaceful  religion  which 
ever  righteously  interposes  to  ameliorate  the 
various  conditions  of  all  mep,  and  which 
wisely  wins  the  powerful  to  assist  the  weak — 
the  unbound,  the  bound  ;  hushes  the  din  of 
discord,  and  by  a  charm  preserves  our  peace 
by  reconciling  our  moral  duties  with  our  so- 
cial and  polilical  rights  and  interests;  in- 
vokes the  love  of  union  ;  teaches  and  preach- 
es obedience  to  servants;  supports  the  ma- 
jesty of  the  laws  by  respecting  public  senti- 
ment, and  classes  all  the  disturbers  of  the 
public  peace  together,  inspires  the  slave- 


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The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


ment,  and  thereby  obtains  for  the  slave  the 
indulgences  which  the  slackened  cord  of 
confidence  yields  without  cause  or  fear  ;  in- 
cidentally facilitates  voluntary  emancipation, 
by  sloughing  off  the  free  colored  population 
always  in  the  way  of  freedom  to  the  slave  ; 
strengthens  and  upholds  the  friends  of  the 
slave-holder  where  he  needs  friends  most, 
where  there  are  no  ties  and  associations  of 
slavery  to  plead  for  the  institution,  and  where 
in  the  north  it  is  a  sword  to  pierce  abolition  . 
and,  above  all  these  special  benefits,  its  great 
aim  is  that  which  makes  the  grandeur  of  this 
cause  rise  to  sublimity — to  make  light  shine 
out  of  darkness,  to  colonize  a  nation  of  free- 
?tien  in  their  father-land  out  of  our  kitchens 
of  slaves  ! 

Yes,  Sir,  the  existence  and  operation  of 
abolition  but  add  to  the  special  benefits  of 
colonization.  It  not  only  renders  the  insti- 
tution of  slavery  secure  at  home  among  our- 
selves, but  it  grants  the  only  ground  on 
which  our  friends  can  stand  in  the  non- 
slaveholding  states  among  our  enemies  who 
are  daily  multiplying  in  numbers  and  in- 
creasing in  power.  But,  sir,  I  repeat  that 
the  special  benefits  of  this  cause  to  this  na- 
tion are  nothing  compared  with  its  general 
benefits  to  all  mankind,  to  all  posterity,  to 
Africa,  to  the  world.  In  contemplating  the 
vast,  ultimate  design  and  effects  of  this  great 
scheme  of  lighting  up  a  whole  land  now 
shrouded  in  the  blackness  of  darkness,  I 
have  often  been  struck  with  a  thought  which 
justifies  slavery  itself  in  the  abstract,  and 
which  has  made  me  wonder  and  adore  a  gra- 
cious Special  Providence.  Aye,  sir,  a  Spe- 
cial Providence — bad  a  man  as  some  may 
have  been  taught  to  believe  me  to  be — I, 
Sir,  even  7  do  firmly,  if  not  faithfully,  intel- 
lectually, if  not  religiously,  believe  in  a 
Great  and  Good  Overruling  Special  Provi- 
dence. And,  Sir,  I  as  firmly  believe  that 
slavery  en  this  continent  is  the  gift  of  Hea- 
ven to  Africa.  Is  it  unworthy  of  the  Divine 
purpose  or  impious  to  suppose  that  it  was  by 
God  intended  to  be  the  sun  of  the  illumina- 
tion of  that  land  of  night? — Cannot  one  well 
see  the  hand  of  the  Everlasting  Almighty — 
who  worketh  not  in  a  day  or  generation — in 


making  one  generation  serve  for  another  of 
the  same  people  ? — Is  there  aught  religiously 
wrong  in  making  an   idolatrous  pagan   sire 
work  out  the  civilization  and  Christianity  of  a 
son  ?     What  mortal  can  say  that  the  slavery 
of  the  sire  was  not  Divinely  intended  to  be 
the  consideration — and  is  it  any  thing  more 
than  a  fair  equivalent — for  the  arts  of  life 
and  the  lights  of  truth   to  his  posterity  1 — 
Africa  gave  to  Virginia  a  savage  and  a  slave, 
Virginia  give  $  back  to  Africa  a  citizen  and  « 
Christian!     Against  which  does  the  balance 
lie  ?  If  this  was  not  the  divine  will,  let  those 
who  object  tell  me,  how  came  African  slave- 
ry here  ?  Sir,  it  is  a  mystery  if  not  thus  ex- 
plained.    When  our  fathers  landed   on  the 
shores  of  my  venerable  district,  did  they  find 
a  population  fair  as  the  forests  of  the  land  ? 
Who  roamed  those  forests  ?    Were  they  too 
not  savages,  ignorant,  rude,   barbarous  and 
uncivilized  as  the  negro  of  Guinea's  coast  ? 
Were  they  not  as  fit  for  slavery  1  Did  not  the 
war  of  massacre,  of  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife  give  the  fairest  pretext  for  slavery  by 
the  right  of  capture  and  subjugation  ?    Poast 
as  we  may  of  the  royal  race  of  aborigines 
who  lorded  it  over  this  domain — of  the  kingly 
Powhatan,    the    peerless    Pocahontas — the 
common    Indians   of    North  America  were 
just   as    fit  for   slavery,  and   ready  here  at 
hand,    as    the    savages   of    Africa's    desert 
strands — they  were  enslaved   by  the    Yan- 
kees.     Why,    then,    were    slaves    brought 
3,000   miles  across  the  ocean,  leaving  our 
neighbouring  tribes  of  savages  untouched  by 
yoke  or  chain  ?  Why  but  to  return  civiliza- 
tion for  slavery  ?  Who  so  fit  to  be  the  pio- 
neer of  civilization  in  Africa    as    the  black 
man  ?  Its  light  expires,  has  always  gone  out 
in  the  hand  of  the  white  man.     And  what 
will  the  civilization  of  Africa  not  do  in  the 
end  for  mankind — for  the  world,  its  arts,  its 
science,  its  commerce,  its  peace  and  happi- 
ness, and  for  freedom  ?  What  new  fields  will 
it  not  explore  ?  The  subject  is  vast  and  un- 
bounded !  I  say  then,   Sir,  send  forth  your 
missionaries  with  light  and  love  to  the  land 
of  night,    until  that   "  dry   nurse    of  lions" 
shall  become  the  nursery  of  arts,  and  science, 
and  civilization,  and  law,  and  order,  and  re- 
ligion ! 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization 


93 


Sir,  I  did  not  mean  to  say  more  than  to 
apologize  for  not  making  a  speech,  and  to 
thank,  cordially  thank,  this  meeting  for  its 
flattering  notice  and  kind  attention.* 

The  speeches  delivered  at  this  meeting 
exhibited  a  power  and  variety  of  eloquence 
which  has  been  seldom  witnessed  in  the  cap- 
itol  of  the  Old  Dominion.  The  sentiments 
advocated  by  the  speakers  were  responded 
to  with  great  enthusiasm  on  the  part  of  the 
audience. 

*  In  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  meeting, 
relative  to  the  foregoing  speech,  Mr.  Wise  says  : 
"  The  speech  which  I  made  at  Richmond  was  in- 
tended to  express  at  the  time  only  my  own  pecu- 
liar views  of  Colonization,  and  advance  the  argu- 
ments and  reasons  which  recommended  the  cause 
to  me." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

House  of  Delegates;  Rev.  Messrs.  Andrews 
and  Ealch  ;  Annual  Meeting  of  1839  ;  Ad- 
dresses of  John  Tyler,  Wm.  Smith  of  Cul- 
peper,  B.  Smith  of  Kanawha,  and  T.  Wal- 
ker Gilmer  of  Jllbemarle  ;  Elliott  Cresson. 

W.  C.  Rives'  Speech;  Mr.  F.  Knight's 
agency  ;  Sermon  of  Rev.  James  Craik  ;- 

Tyler,  Wise  and  Rives  delegates  to  Annual 


Meeting  of  1845. 
dress  and  election 


Gov.  McDowell's  Jld- 
as   President ;   Extract 


from  Repository;  Reorganization  of  Colo- 
nization Society  of  Virginia  in  1849 ; — 
Correspondence  of  Messrs.  Upshur  and  Fox, 
Robert  B.  Boiling  elected  President ;  Mr. 
Bailey's  Memorial ;  Mr.  Slaughter's  Ad- 
dress ;  Position  of  Society  on  Slavery  ; — 
Mr.  Dorman's  Bill,  Sfc. 

Numerous  petitions  were  presented  to  the 
General  Assembly  at  each  session  for  ar 
amendment  of  the  act  of  1833,  so  as  to  make 
it  available  for  the  purposes  of  the  Society. 
Upon  two  occasions,  as  we  have  seen,  the 
House  of  Delegates  passed  bills  in  confor- 
mity with  these  petitions,  but  for  some  rea- 
son they  were  not  acted  upon  by  the  Senate. 
Notwithstanding  the  inefficacy  of  this  act  of 
Assembly  from  which  so  much  was  anticipa- 
ted, the  cause  still  prospered  in  Virginia  un- 
der the  energetic  agency  of  the  Rev.  C.  W. 
Andrews,  and  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Balch, 
who  succeeded  him.  The  leading  politicians 


of  both  parties  appeared  as  its  advocates  in 
the  Capitol  at  Richmond,  and  represented  it 
in  the  general  meeting  at  Washington. 

The  next  annual  meeting  was   held  in  the 
Capitol  at  Richmond,  on  the  22nd   January, 
1839.     The  Hall  of  the  House  of  Delegates 
was  crowded  to  overflowing,   so    that  many 
persons  could  not  make  their  way   into  the 
oom.     The   Honorable   John    Tyler,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Society  took  the  chair,  and  J.  C. 
rane  acted  as   Secretary.     The   annual  re- 
port was  read  by  the  Rev.  T.  B.  Balch.   Wil- 
iam  Smith  of  Culpeper  offered  the  following 
resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  present  encouraging 
and  prosperous  condition  of  Liberia  is  a  mat- 
ter of  just  congratulation  to  all  the  friends  of 
this  great  c.ause. 

B.  H.  Smith  of  Kanawha  offered  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  experience  of  the  past 
year  has  rendered  more  firm  the  conviction 
that  the  Colonization  scheme  is  worthy  of 
the  regard  of  the  patriot,  the  philanthropist 
arid  the  Christian. 

John  T.  Anderson  of  Botetourt  offered  the 
following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  while  much  has  been  done 
and  much  more  will  be  accomplished  by  vol- 
untary donations,  through  the  channels  of 
private  benevolence,  yet  the  magnitude  and 
importance  of  our  object  entitle  it  to  the  lib- 


eral   patronage    of   the   Legislature    of  this 
State. 

Thomas  Walker  Gilmer,  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Delegates,  offered  the  following 
resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  mild  and  redeeming 
spirit  of  Colonization  is  opposed  to,  and  pre- 
sents a  striking  contrast  with  the  wild  fanat- 
icism of  those  who  by  the  desecration  of  the 
name  of  philanthropy,  would  subvert  our 
laws  and  sacrifice  our  happy  institutions  on 
the  altar  of  delusion. 

The  gentlemen  severally  offering  these  re 
solutions,  sustained  them  in  addresses  wor- 
thy, (says  a  cotemporary,)  of  the  "  Old  Do- 
minion," and  the  auditory  responded  by  fre- 
quent bursts  of  applause,  indicating  a  deep 
interest  in  the  subject. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Balch  made  an  appeal  to  the 


94 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


liberality  of  the  meeting  for  a  pecuniary  con- I 
tribution.  The  President  then  addressed  the  i 
meeting  in  answer  to  a  call  from  all  parts  of 
the  House.  The  Richmond  Whij/  of  the 

g 

next  day,  said  that  the  address  of  the  Presi- 
dent was  characteristic  for  its  fervid  and  flow- 
ingeloquence  ;  and'his  allusions  to  the  mem- 
ory of  two  of  Virginia's  distinguished  sons 
as  patrons  and  devoted  friends  of  Coloniza- 
tion, Madison  and  Marshall,  as  well  as  hisj 
strongly  felt,  and  expressed  interest  in  the 
cj  use,  excited  deep  emotion. 

In  June  1840,  Mr.  Elliott  Cresson  of  Phil- 
adelphia, a  warm,  untiring  and  able  friend  ofj 
African  Colonization,  being  on  a  visit  to  the 
City  of  Richmond,  was  invited  by  the  Board 
ol  Managers  to  deliver  an  address  upon  the 
subject.  Accordingly  a  meeting  was  called 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  on  Shockoe  Hill 
to  Hear  Mr.  Cresson.  We  presume  that  this 
meeting  took  place,  although  we  have  no 
note  of  its  proceedings. 

In  June  1842,  a  convention  of  the  friends 
of  African  Colonization  in  the  United  States 
was  held  in  the  city  of  Washington  for  the 
purpose  of  concerting  measures  for  giving 
an  impetus  to  the  cause  as  a  great  national 
interest.  Able  speeches  were  delivered  by 
Mr.  Gurley,  Senator  Morehead  of  Kentucky, 
Francis  Key  and  Wm.  C.  Rives  of  Virginia. 
Mr.  Rives,  said  a  cotemporary  who  heard 
him,  addressed  the  Convention  in  a  speech 
replete  with  able  argument,  and  eloquence 
of  an  order  which  high  sentiments  of  Patriot- 
ism only  could  inspire.  We  deeply  regret 
cur  inability  to  present  this  speech  to  the 
public.  Mr.  Rives  alluded  to  the  transient 
nature  of  many  of  the  political  strifes  of  the 
day,  when  compared  with  the  permanent  be- 
neficence and  glory  of  a  scheme  adapted  to 
laise  the  character  and  enlighten  the  pros- 
pects of  a  race  of  men,  and  bring  a  whole 
continent  from  barbarism  to  civilization  and 
Christianity.  He  spoke  of  the  impossibility 
of  elevating  the  colored  race  in  the  United 
States;  the  obstacles  being  too  numerous 
and  fixed,  to  be  overcome  by  any  human 
power.  He  discussed  at  some  length  the 
doctrine  of  De  Toqueville,  thai  the  social 
union  of  two  races  so  distinct  as  the  white 
and  colored  was  not  to  be  expected.  He  be- 


lieved-Colonization  to  be  a  "  great  and  fruit- 
ful idea,"  and  that  in  time  its  benefits  would 
be  spread  throughout  vast  districts  of  Africa, 
&.c.  He  spoke  of  the  slave- trade,  and  urged 
with  great  force  the  duty  of  our  country  to 
do  its  part  to  suppress  it,  by  affording  coun- 
tenance to  our  African  settlements,  and 
maintaining  a  squadron  on  the  coast,  &c. 
He  was  more  deeply  than  ever  impressed 
with  the  vast  utility  of  the  scheme,  and  that 
it  merited  the  support  and  favor  of  the  States 
and  of  the  Nation,  &c. 

The  speech  was  worthy  of  the  great  repu- 
tation of  the  very  able  Senator,  and  excited 
warm  and  universal  applause. 

In  May  1843,  Mr.  Franklin  Knight,  an 
agent  of  the  American  Society,  laid  before 
ihe  BDard  of  Managers  of  the  Virginia  So- 
ciety a  proposition  of  the  American  Society 
to  raise  $20,000  to  purchase  the  territory  in- 
tervening between  Cape  Mount  and  Cape 
Palmas,  on  the  Coast  of  Africa.  The  Board 
cordially  approved  of  the  plan  and  resolved 
to  hold  a  meeting  in  the  city  of  Richmond 
to  aid  in  its  advancement.  Messrs.  Crane 
and  James,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Norwood  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  cooperate  with  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Knight  in  furthering  his  views. 

In  July  of  this  year,  the  Rev.  James  Craik 
of  Charleston,  Kenawha  County,  Virginia, 
preached  an  able  sermon  to  St.  John's  con- 
gregation of  which  he  was  Rector.  At  the 
request  of  his  vestry,  the  sermon  was  pub- 
lished in  the  African  Repository,  whose  Ed- 
itor in  introducing  it  to  his  readers,  expresses 
his  gratification  in  hearing  that  "  public  opin- 
ion in  Virginia  and  the  South  is  becoming 
more  decidedly  and  earnestly  directed  to  this 
great  question  of  elevated  patriotism  and 
benevolence." 

The  Honorable  John  Tyler,  President,  the 
Honorable  Wm.  C.  Rives  and  Henry  A. 
Wise,  Vice-Presidents,  were  appointed  to 
represent  the  Virginia  Society  at  the  Anni- 
versary of  the  American  Colonization  Soci- 
ety, in  Washington,  on  the  16th  of  January, 
1844. 

We  may  here  appropriately  introduce  an 
interesting  correspondence  between  the  Bri- 
ti.-h  Minister  at  Washington  and  .hul^e  Up- 
shur  then  Secretary  of  State.  Judge  Upshur 


• 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


was  an  eminent  Virginian  Statesman  and  an 
officer  and  ardent  friend  of  the  Society. 

MR.  Fox  TO  MR.  UPSHER. 

Washington,  Aug.  9,  1843. 

SIR  :  I  had  recently  the  honor  to  state  to 
;you,  verbally,  that  her  Majesty's  Government 
have,  for  some  time  past,  been  desirous  of 
ascertaining,  authentically,  the  name  and  ex- 
tent of  the  connexion  subsisting  between 
the  American  colony  of  Liberia  on  the  coast 
of  Africa,  and  the  Government  of  the  United 
States. 

Certain  differences  which  have  arisen,  and 
which,  I  believe,  are  still  pending,  between 
British  subjects  trading  with  Africa  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  authorities  of  Liberia  on 
the  other,  render  it  very  necessary,  in  order 
to  avert  for  the  future,  serious  trouble  and 
contention  in  that  quarter,  that  her  Majesty's 
Government  should  be  accurately  informed 
what  degree  of  official  patronage  and  pro- 
tection, if  any,  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment extend  to  the  colony  of  Liberia;  how 
far,  if  at  all,  the  United  States  Government 
recognize  the  colony  of  Liberia  as  a  national 
establishment  ;  and,  consequently,  how  far, 
if  at  all,  the  United  States  Government  hold 
themselves  responsible  towards  foreign  coun- 
tries for  the  acts  of  the  authorities  of  Libe- 
ria. 

It  is  very  desirable,  if  the  United  Govern- 
ment recognize   and   protect   the   colony  of 
Liberia,     that    her    Majesty's     Government  | 
should   be   authentically   informed  what  are  \ 
considered  to  be  the  territorial  limits   of  the  i 
colony;   and  also  by  what  title   the   amount: 
of  territory   so   claimed   has  been   acquired.  • 
For  k  appears   that,  (during  the  last  year,  in 
particular,)    the    authorities   of  Liberia  have! 
shown  a  disposition  to   enlarge  very  consid- 
erably the  limits  of  their  territory  ;  assuming, 
to  all  appearance  quite  unjustifiably,  the  right 
of  monopolizing   the  trade  with   the   native 
inhabitants  along  a  considerable  line  of  coast, 
where  the  trade  had  hitherto  been  free  ;   and 
thus   injuriously   interfering   with    the    com- 
mercial interests  and  pursuits  of  British  sub- 
jects in  that  quarter. 

It  is  not  for  a  moment  supposed  that  the 
United  States  Government  would,  either  di- 
rectly or  indirectly,  sanction  such  proceed- 
ings;  but,  in  case  of  its  becoming  necessary 
to  stop  the  further  progress  of  such  proceed- 


ings and  such  pretensions,  it  is  very  desira- 
ble, in  order,  as  before  mentioned,  to  avert 
causes  of  future  dispute  and  contention,  that 
her  Majesty's  Government  should  be  in- 
formed whether  the  authorities  of  Liberia 
are  themselves  alone  responsible  on  the  spot 
for  their  public  acts;  or  whether,  if  they  are. 
under  the  protection  and  control  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  Government,  it  is  to  that  Govern- 
ment that  application  must  be  made  when 
the  occasions  above  alluded  to  may  require 
it. 

I  avail  myself  of  this  occasion  to  renew 
to  you  the  assurance  of  my  distinguised  con- 
sideration. 

H.  S.  FOX. 

HON.  ABEL  P.  UPSHUR,  &.G.,  &c. 

MR.  UPSHUR  TO  MR.  Fox. 
DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 

Washington,  Sept.  2.*,  1843. 
SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the 

o 

receipt  of  jour  letter  of  the  9th  of  August 
last,  informing  me  that  her  Majesty's  Gov- 
ernment have  for  some  time  past,  been  de- 
sirous of  ascertaining  authentically  the  na- 
ture and  extent  of  the  connexion  subsisting 
between  the  American  colony  of  Liberia,  on 
the  Coast  of  Africa,  and  the  Government  of 
the  United  Slates,  and  requesting  me  to  give 
you  the  desired  information. 

The  colony,  or  settlement,  of  Liberia  was 
established  by  a  voluntary  association  of 
American  citizens,  under  the  title  of  tho 
American  Colonization  Society.  Its  objects 
were,  to  introduce  Christianity  and  promote 
civilization  in  Africa  ;  to  relieve  the  slave- 
holding  States  from  the  inconvenience  of  an 
increase  of  free  blacks  among  them  ;  to  im- 
prove the  condition  and  elevate  the  charac- 
ter of  those  blacks  themselves,  and  to  pre- 
sent to  the  slave-holder  an  inducement  to 
emancipate  his  slaves,  by  offering  to  them  an 
asylum  in  the  country  of  their  ancestors,  in 
which  they  would  enjoy  political  and  social 
equality.  It  was  not,  however,  established 
under  the  authority  of  our  Government,  nor 
has  it  been  recognized  as  subject  to  our  laws 
and  jurisdiction. 

It  is  believed  that  the  society  has  confined 
itself  strictly  to  the  professed  objects  of  its 
association.  As  an  individual  enterprise,  it 
has  no  precedent  in  the  history  of  the  world. 
The  motives  which  led  to  it  were  not  those 


96 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


of  trade,  nor  of  conquest;  the  individuals 
concerned  in  it  proposed  themselves  no  pei- 
sonal  advantage  nor  benefit  whatever.  Their 
motives  were  purely  philanthropic,  and  their 
objects  strictly  disinterested.  In  spite  of  the 
unexampled  difficulties  with  which  they  have 
had  to  contend,  they  have  by  patience  an  1 
perseverance,  succeeded  in  placing  their  col- 
ony upon  a  safe  and  prosperous  looting.  It 
is  just  beginning  to  exert,  in  a  sensible  de- 
gree, its  beneficient  influences  upon  the  des- 
tinies of  the  African  race  ;  and  promises,  if 
it  be  duly  sustained,  to  do  much  for  the  re- 
generation of  that  quarter  of  the  globe. 
Hence  it  has  received,  as  it  richly  deserves-, 
the  respect  and  sympathy  of  the  whole  civ- 
ilized world.  To  the  United  States  it  is.  a:i 
object  of  peculiar  interest.  It  was  e-t.il>- 
lished  by  our  people,  and  has  gone  on  under 
the  countenance  and  good  offices  of  our 
Government.  It  is  identified  with  the  suc- 
cess of  a  great  object,  which  has  enlisted  the 
feelings,  and  called  into  action  the  enlarged 
benevolence,  of  a  large  proportion  of  our 
people.  It  is  natural,  therefore,  that  wo 
should  regard  it  with  greater  sympathy  and 
solicitude  than  would  attach  to  it  under 
other  circumstances. 

This  society  was  first  projected  in  the  year 
1816.  In  1831  it  possessed  itself  of  a  terri- 
tory upon  the  continent  of  Africa,  by  fair 
purchase  of  the  owners  of  the  soil.  For 
several  years  it  was  compelled  to  defend  it- 
self by  arms,  and  unaided,  against  the  native 
tribes ;  and  succeeded  in  sustaining  itself 
only  at  a  melancholy  sacrifice  of  comfort, 
and  a  lamentable  loss  of  human  lives.  No 
nation  has  ever  complained  that  it  his  ac- 
quired territory  in  Africa;  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, for  twenty-two  years  it  has  been  al- 
lowed, with  the  full  knowledge  of  all  nations, 
to  enlarge  its  borders  from  time  to  time,  as 
its  safety  or  its  necessities  required.  It  has 
been  regarded  as  a  purely  benevolent  enter- 
prise, and,  with  a  view  to  its  success,  has 
been  tacitly  permitted  to  exercise  all  the 
powers  of  an  independent  community.  It 
is  believed  that  tbjs  license  has  never  been 
abused,  and  that  the  colony  has  advanced  no 
claims  which  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  an 
infant  settlement  just  struggling  into  a  heal- 
thy existence.  Its  objects  and  motives  enti- 
tle it  to  the  respect  of  the  stronger  powers, 


and  its  very  weakness  gives  it  irresistible 
claims  to  their  forbearance.  Indeed  it  may 
justly  appeal  to  the  kindness  and  support  of 
all  the  principal  nations  of  the  world,  since 
it  has  already  afforded  and  still  continues  to 
afford,  the  most  important  aid  in  carrying 
out  a  favorite  measure  of  their  policy. 

It  is  not  perceived  that  any  nation  can 
have  just  reason  to  complain  that  this  settle- 
ment does  not  confine  itself  to  the  limits  of 
its  original  territory.  Its  vfry  existence  re- 
quires that  it  should  extend  those  limits. 
Heretofore,  this  has  never  been  done  by 
arms,  so  far  as  I  am  informed,  but  always  by 
fair  purchase  from  the  natives.  In  like  man- 
ner, their  treaties  with  the  native  princes, 
whether  of  trade  or  otherwise,  ought  to  be 
respected.  It  is  quite  certain  that  their  in- 
fluence in  civilizing  and  christianizing  Afri- 
ca, in  suppressing  the  slave-trade,  and  in 
ameliorating  the  condition  of  African  slaves, 
would  be  worth  very  little,  if  they  should  be 
retrained  at  this  time  in  any  one  of  these 
particulars.  Full  justice,  it  is  hoped,  mayrbe 
done  to  England,  without  denying  to  Libe- 
ria powers  so  necessary  to  the  .safety,  the 
prosperity,  and  the  utility  of  that  settlement 
as  a  philanthropic  establishment. 

This  Government  does  not,  of  course,  un- 
dertake to  settle  and  adjust  differences  which 
have  arisen  between  British  subjects  and  the 
authorities  of  Liberia.  Those  authorities  are 
responsible  for  their  own  acts  ;  and  they  cer- 
tainly would  not  expect  the  support  or  coun- 
tenance of  this  Government  in  any  act  of  in- 
justice towards  individuals  or  nations.  But 
as  they  are  themselves  nearly  powerless, 
they  must  rely,  for  the  protection  of^their 
own  rights,  on  the  justice  and  sympathy  of 
other  powers. 

Although  no  apprehension  is  entertained 
that  the  British  Government  meditates  any 
wrong  to  this  interesting  settlement,  yet  the 
occasion  is  deemed  a  fit  one  for  making 
known,  beyond  a  simple  answer  to  your  en- 
quiries, in  what  light  it  is  regarded  by  the 
people  of  the  United  States.  It  is  du ;  to 
her  Majesty's  Government  that  I  should  in- 
form you  that  this  Government  regards  it  as 
occupying  a  peculiar  position,  and  as  pos- 
so.-sing  peculiar  claims  to  the  friendly  con- 
sideration of  all  Christian  powers  ;  that  this 
Government  will  be,  at  all  times,  prepared 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


97 


to  interpose  its  good  offices  to  prevent  any 
incroachment  by  the  colony  upon  any  just 
right  of  any  nation,  and  that  it  would  be 
very  unwilling  to  see  it  despoiled  of  its  ter- 
ritory rightfully  acquired,  or  improperly  re- 
strained in  the  exercise  of  its  necessary 
rights  and  powers  as  an  independent  settle- 
ment. 

I  pray  you  to  accept  the  assurance  of  rny 
distinguished  consideration. 

A.  P.  UPSHUR. 

HENRY  S.  Fox,  Esq.,  &.c.,  &c. 

On  Saturday  evening,  the  llth  of  January, 
1845,  the  Annual  meeting  of  the  Coloniza- 
tion Society  of  Virginia,  was  held  in  the  Hall 
of  the  House  of  Delegates.  On  motion  of 
Mr.  Maxwell-Governor  McDowell  was  call- 
ed to  the  chair,  and  on  taking  the  chair, 
Governor  McDowell  addressed  the  meetinw 

C5 

in  his  earnest  and  impressive  style,  setting 
forth  ably  and  eloquently  the  importance  of 
this  subject  to  the  United  States  in  general, 
and  to  the  South  in  particular,  and  thence 
deducing  the  duty  of  every  American  citizen 
and  especially  of  every  Southern  man  to  aid 
in  its  wise  and  vigorous  prosecution.  Gov- 
ernor McDowell  was  then  unanimously  elec- 
ted President  of  the  Society. 

For  the  next  four  years  the  Colonization 
Society  of  Virginia  seems  to  have  suspended 
its  operations.  This  did  not  proceed  from  a 
want  of  interest  in  the  subject,  but  from  the 
difficulty  of  providing  competent  agents. — 
The  fuel  was  ready  and  there  was  only  want- 
ing some  warm  heart  to  kindle  the  fire.  In"- 
deed  ever  since  the  Rev.  Messrs  Andrews 
and  Balch,  the  first  Virginians  who  had  ac- 
ted for  the  Society,  it  had  been  in  a  jtate  of 
suspended  animation  and  was  only  aroused 
to  action  by  the  visitation  of  some  member 
of  the  Society  at  Washington,  and  then  soon 
relapsed  into  its  slumber  again.  This  view 
of  ours  is  confirmed  by  the  following  pas- 
sage in  the  Report  of  the  American  Society, 
in  January  I84t>. 

"  In  Virginia  there  is  much  interest  i,i  the 
cause,  but  there  have  been  but  few  effort 
made  to  turn  it  to  account.  Wo  have  not 
!>.---en  Pblr-  to  *eeure  for  that  Stnte  any  JJgent 
of  qualifications  suitable  to  ike  emergencies  in 
the  case.  Whenever  efforts  have  been  made  [ 

13 


to  raise  funds,  they  have  been  successful  in 
an  encouraging  degree.  Most  of  the  funds 
which  we  have  received  from  Virginia,  have 
been  raised  by  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  the 
ordinary  routine  of  their  parochial  opera- 
tions." 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1849,  a  meeting 
was  held  in  the  Capitol,  in  the  City  of  Rich- 
mond, for  the  purpose  of  reorganizing  the 
Colonization  Society  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Win. 
H.  Macfarland  was  called  to  the  chair.  He 
explained  the  object  of  the  meeting  and  ur- 
ged the  claims  of  the  Society  to  the  cordial 
support  of  the  public. 

Mr.  Baxter  offered  the  following  resolu- 
tion : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  eminently  expedient 
and  desirable  to  revive  and  reorganize  the 
Virginia  Colonization  Society  ;  and  to  fur- 
nish it  immediately  with  all' the  means  which 
may  enable  it  to  prosecute  its  important  and 
interesting  object  with  new  and  increased 
energy,  constancy  and  effect. 

This  resolution  was  supported  by  addresses 
from  Bishop  Johns  and  Messrs.  Maxwell, 
Baxter,  Reeve,  James  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tins- 
ley,  and  unanimously  adopted. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  of- 
ficers of  the  Society. 

President. — Robert  B.  Boiling  of  Peters- 
burg. 

Vice-Presidents. — W.  H.  Macfarland,  Jno. 
Rutherfoord,  R.  G.  Scott,  Jarne«  C.  Bruce, 
and  Messrs.  R.  H.  Cunningham,  Ma\\\c:l, 
Blackford,  &c. 

Corresponding  Secretary. — P.  V.  Daniel. 

Recording  Secretary. — B    B.  Mm  or. 

Managers. — N.  Mills,  Samuel  Reeve,  J.  O. 
Steger,  T  H.  EHis,  S.  Palmer,  M.  Greiter, 
F.  lames,  R.  Whitfield,  Egbert  Watson,  and 
Thomas  Samson. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  i849,  a  letter  was 
received  from  Mr.  Boiling  of  Petersburg,  ex- 
pressing his  hearty  interest  in  the  Society, 
and  regretting  that  his  health  and  numerous 
engagements,  constrained  him  to  decline  the 
office  of  President.  Governor  Floyd  was 
ihen  unanimously  elected  to  fill,  the  vacancy. 
The  Rev.  W.  M.  Atkinson  was  appointed 
general  a^enl.  A  committee  consuming  o!' 
Ylf^srs.  Eilis,  '  rune  ;iu<i  Jdines.  w,i>  appoin- 
ts! to  obiain  from  the  L<ji;islauirf  an  ad  ol 
incorporation  and  legislative  aid  to  ilie  So- 


98 


Virginian  History  of  African   Colonization. 


ciety.  The  Society  at  this  time  sustained  a 
serious  loss  in  the  t'eath  of  William  Williams, 
its  Treasurer.  Thomas  H.  Ellis  was  chosen 
to  fill  his  place. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  McLain,  General  Agent  of 
the  American  Colonization  Society,  appear- 
ed before  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Society,  and  stated  that  the  government 
of  the  United  States  contemplated  entering  | 
into  a  commercial  treaty  with  Liberia,  in 
which  treaty  the  independence  of  Liberia 
would  be  recognized  ;  that  Mr.  Gurley  had 
gone  to  Liberia  by  appointment  of  the  gov- 
ernment, with  a  view  of  obtaining  accurate 
intelligence  of  its  condition  and  resources. 

O 

He  also  said  that  the  Liberians  knowing  and 
respecting  the  prejudices  of  Americans,  did 
not  propose  to  send  a  colored  representative 
to  this  country,  but  had  designated  him  (Mr. 
McLain)  to  represent  their  interests ;  that 
Great  Britain  had  acknowledged  the  inde- 
pendence of  Liberia  ;  sent  President  Roberts 
home  in  a  National  vessel,  and  presented 
him  with  an  armed  frigate — that  the  com- 
merce of  Liberia  was  rapidly  increasing  and 
was  capable  of  indefinite  expansion,  and 
that  favorable  terms  might  be  obtained  by  us 
if  tie  opportunity  was  not  permitted  to  pass. 
He  added  that  the  President  of  the  United 
States  was  desirous  of  learning  the  state  of 
public  opinion  in  all  parts  of  the  country 
upon  the  question.  He  then  suggested  that 
the  Virginia  Board  should  express  its  senti- 
ments upon  the  policy  of  recognition.  Af- 
ter an  interchange  of  opinion  by  the  Mana- 
gers, it  was  resolved,  on  motion  of  Robert 
G.  Scott,  that  in  the  opinion  of  this  Board 
it  was  expedient  to  recognize  the  indepen- 
dence of  Liberia,  by  entering  into  a  commer- 
cial treaty  with  her.  The  Secretary  was  in- 
structed to  prepare  a  memorial  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  expressing 
this  opinion,  which  il  approved  by  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  Society,  should  be  properly  au- 
thenticated and  tranpmitted  to  Washington. 
The  next  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society 
was  held  in  the  1st  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Richmond.  The  President  of  the  Society 
took  the  chair,  and  the  meeting  was  opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  T.  V.  Moore.  R. 
G.  Scott  then  presented  letters  from  the  Hon. 
Henry  Clay,  R.  W.  Thompson,  and  J.  R. 
Underwood,  regretting  that  they  could  not 


accept  invitations  to  address  the  meeting. 
Mr.  Clay  said,  "  continuing  to  feel  the 
liveliest  interest  in  t  e  Colonization  of  the 
free  people  of  color;  having  all  my  original 
impressions  in  favor  of  the  scheme,  strength- 
ened and  confirmed  by  successful  experi- 
ence, and  now  entertaining  no  doubt  of  its 
entire  practicability  and  of  its  being  suscep- 
tible of  an  expansion  so  as  to  colonize  in  a 
reasonable  time  all  the  colored  people  now 
free,  and  such  as  may  be  emancipated,  I 
should  be  most  happy  to  assist  in  the  endea- 
vor to  give  a  new  and  more  vigorous  impulse 
to  the  Virginia  Society.  On  other  accounts 
it  would  give  me  much  personal  gratification 
to  revisit  the  Capitol  of  my  native  State.  I 
regret  that  my  engagements  will  not  allow 
me  to  leave  the  city  at  this  time. 
I  am,  with  high  respect, 

Your  ob't  servant, 

HENRY  CLAY. 
Messrs.  R.  G.  Scott,  B.  B.  Minor,  Sec. 

Mr.  R.  G.  Scott  then  introduced  to  the 
Society  Mr.  T.  H.  B.  Latrobe,  President  of 
th  •  Colonization  Society  of  Maryland,  who 
made  an  able  and  instructive  speech.  He 
was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  McLnin,  who 
by  a  few  pointed  and  practical  remarks 
heightened  the  impression  already  made  in 
favor  of  African  Colonization. 

The  Rev.  P.  Slaughter,  (who  had  been  just 
elected  General  Agent  of  the  Society,)  and 
R.  G.  Scott  were  appointed  delegates  to  the 
Annual  meeting  of  the  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society.  Mr.  R.  G.  Scott  was  one  of 
the  orators  of  the  latter  Society,  and  illus- 
trated his  long  devotion  to  the  cause  by  an 
able,  patriotic  and  impassioned  speech. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  on  the  30th  of 

O 

January,  1850,  the  Rev.  P.  Slaughter  made  a 
brief  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Amer- 
ican Society,  and  suggested  that  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  have  an  understanding  as  to  the 
spheres  of  action  of  the  two  Societies,  and 
also  that  this  Board  should  make  an  explicit 
declaration  of  the  principles  and  views  of 
the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia.  Ac- 
cordingly Messrs.  Scott,  Caskie  and  Reeve 
were  appointed  a  committee  in  cooperation 
with  Mr.  Slaughter,  to  prepare  an  exposi- 
tion of  our  plans  and  policy.  The  result  of 
their  counsels  was  the  following  declaration, 
which  was  approved  by  the  Board  and  pub- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


99 


lished  as  an  official  document  of  the  Society. 

"  Whereas  in  the  p:esent  excited  state  of 
the  public  mind  upon  the  subject  of  slavery, 
the  people  of  the  South  look  with  a-xious 
jealousy  upon  every  movement  which  has  or 
is  supposed  to  have  a  direct  or  indirect  effect 
upon  that  institution;  and  believing  that  the 
people  of  Virginia  will  and  ought  to  insist 
upon  having  a  distinct  and  unequivocal  ex- 
position of  the  views  and  purposes  of  every 
man  and  association  of  men,  who  propose 
action  in  reference  to  the  colored  population 
of  the  State — we,  the  President  and  Mana- 
gers of  the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia, 
deem  it  onr  duty  to  make  a  brief  and  candid 
exposition  of  the  principles,  objects  and  pol- 
icy of  the  Society,  and  do  for  that  purpose 
resolve  that  we  adhere  with  unshaken  fideli- 
ty to  that  article  in  the  Constitution  of  the 
American  Colonization  Society,  which  de- 
clares it  to  be  the  single  purpose  of  that  So- 
ciety to  Colonize  on  the  Coast  of  Africa  the 
free  black  population  -of  the  United  Stales, 
with  their  own  consent. 

Resolved,  That  we  believe  that  the  Ameri- 
can Colonization  Society  has  adhered  to  this 
in  the  past,  and  will  continue  to  do  so  for 
the  future  ;  and  we  pledge  ourselves  to  watch 
its  operations  with  sleepless  vigilance  and 
give  warning  of  the  least  and  first  departure 
from  its  organic  law,  as  a  breach  of  faith,  and 
a  signal  of  our  immediate  withdrawal  from 
all  cooperation  with  it. 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  purposes  to 
devote  its  funds  to  the  removal  of  the  free 
colored  population  of  this  State,  and  will  ap- 
ply all  the  funds  that  may  be  contributed  to 
it  to  this  object,  except  such  as  may  be  spe- 
cially appropriated  by  the  donor  to  other  ob- 
jects. 

Resolved,  That  the  Managers  having  cho- 
sen the  Rev.  P.  Slaughter  to  represent  their 
views  and  policy  in  this  State,  do  respectfully 
request  that  all  contributions  to  this  cause  in 
this  State,  may  be  paid  to  him,  that  they  may 
be  by  him  transmitted  to  the  Treasurer  of 
this  Society."  JOHN  B.  FLOYD, 

President. 

B.  B.  MINOR,  Secretary. 
. 

The  Rev.  R.  W.  Bailey,  who  had  been  la-- 
boring diligently  in   the   Valley   of  Virginia,' 
as  agent  of  the   American  Colonization  So-j 
ciety,  prepared  an  able  memorial  to  the  Gen-' 


eral  Assembly  at  the  session  of  1849-50,  pro- 
ving and  illustrating  with  clearness  and  force 
the  following  conclusions — 

1st.  It  is  desirable  and  necessary  to  both 
races  that  the  free  colored  people  should  be 
removed  from  this  State. 

2nd.  Liberia  is  their  proper  home,  and  it 
is  for  their  interest  to  emigrate  to  that  land 
of  Liberty  and  Law. 

3rd.  We  extend  to  them  their  due  share 
of  justice  and  mercy  in  providing  for  their 
removal  thither. 

4th.  The  Colonization  Society  is  a  proper, 
convenient  and  economical  agency  to  effect 
this  removal. 

5th.  In  making  a  liberal  appropriation  for 
this  object,  the  present  Legislature  would  be 
carrying  out  the  policy  of  this  State,  as  de- 
clared by  divers  former  Legislatures  of  Vir- 
ginia for  half  a  century. 

The  Rev.  P.  Slaughter  also  presented  to 
the  Legislature  an  elaborate  address,  tracing 
the  idea  of  Colonization  from  its  first  sug- 
gestion by  Mr.  Jefferson  in  1776,  through 
all  its  modifications  by  the  General  Assem- 
blies of  Virginia,  until  its  full  development 
in  the  American  Colonization  Society  ;  and 
demonstrating  it  to  be  from  its  conception 
to  its  consummation,  and  down  to  the  pres- 
ent time  an  eminently  Virginian  scheme  of 
policy.  This  address  was  republished  at 
Washington  with  the  Annual  Report  of  the 
American  Society,  and  again  with  the  docu- 
ments of  the  Report  of  the  Naval  Committee 
of  Congress,  proposing  the  establishment  of 
a  line  of  Steamers  between  America  and 
Africa. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Dorman's  bill,  founded  upon 
a  recommendation  in  Gov.  Floyd's  message, 
passed  both  houses  of  the  General  Assembly, 
with  nearly  the  identical  restrictions  which 
made  the  act  of  1S33  unavailable.  It  appro- 
priated $30,000  per  annum,  for  five  years, 
to  the  removal  of  the  free  negroes  of  Vir- 
ginia to  Liberia.  It  only  allows  $25  to  be 
applied  to  the  transportation  of  each  adult 
and  $15  to  each  infant  under  ten  years  ot 
age,  while  the  actual  average  expense  of 
transporting  each  emigrant  adult  and  infant 
is  $60.  It  also  limits  the  appropriation  to 
negroes  free  at  the  time  of  its  passage ;  a 
provision  which  seems  to  us  impolitic,  be- 


100 


The   Virginian  History  of  African   Colonization. 


cause  its  effect  is  not  to  prevent  emancipa- 
tion as  was  intended  by  its  framers,  but  to 
leave  the  emancipated  to  remain  in  the  Com- 
monwealth, contrary  to  the  spirit  and  intent 
of  the  law.  Accordingly,  more  than  two 
hundred  slaves  were  emancipated  and  allow- 
ed to  remain  in  the  Commonwealth  in  ISoO. 
It  is  also  often  impossible  to  collect  legal 


are  nevertheless  reputed  by  every  one  who 
knows  them  to  be  free  These  facts  render- 
ed the  provisions  of  the  law  of  1S33  so  dif- 
ficult of  execution  that  not  a  dollar  appro- 
priated by  it  was  expended.  The  Society 
did,  however,  to  some  extent,  avail  itself  of 
the  appropriation  of  1850.  The  following 
facts  will  illustrate  the  operation  of  this  law. 
In  1850  we  colonized  from  Virginia  107  em- 
igrants at  a  cost  of  $5,350,  of  which  sum 
we  received  from  the  State  Treasury  only 
$675.  In  1851  we  colonized  141  persons  at 
a  cost  of  $7,050,  of  which  we  received  from 
the  State  Treasury  $1,950.  In  1852  we 
colonized  from  Virginia  192  persons  at  a  cost 
of  $11,520,  of  which  we  received  from  the 
State  Treasury  only  $2,815.  So  that  while 


The  President,  Gov.  Floyd,  took  the  chair, 
and  the  report  of  Mr.  Slaughter,  was  read 
by  Mr.  Minor.  It  gave  a  minute  history  of 
Colonization  in  Virginia,  and  discussed  the 
the  whole  subject  in  its  political,  social  and 
religious  aspects.  It  also  contained  many 
-tions  for  enlarging  and  facilitating  the 
labors  of  the  Society  in  Virginia. 

The  revenue  of  the  Society  was  $7,000,  a 
sum  inadequate  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the 
large  emigration  from  the  State.  The  defi- 
ciency was  supplied  by  contributions  from 
other  States  through  the  American  Coloni- 
zation Society.  It  noticed  with  commenda- 
tion the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bayly  in  the 
Valley,  and  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Starr  in  Nor- 
folk. 

Mr.  R.  G  Scott  moved  the  adoption  of  the 
Report,  and  "  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Slaughter  for  his  efficient  services  as 
the  Society's  representative." 

Mr.  Scott  having  based  some  well-timed 
and  forcible  remarks  upon  his  resolution  it 
WLI-  unanimously  adopted. 

Mr.  Tazewell  Taylor  offered  the  folio win°; 
resolution,  accompanying  it  with  someap- 


in  three  years  we  colonized  from  Virginia!  propriate  comments  : 


440  emigrants  at  a  cost  of  $2o',400,  we  only 
used  $5,430  of  the  State  appropriation,  leav- 
ing the  Society  to  supply  from  private  dona- 
tions the  sum  of  $21,000. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Annual  Meeting  of  1851 — The  Report  and  R. 
G.  Scott's  Resolution — Speeches  of  Taze 
well  Taylor,  Dorman,  Janney,  Moncure, 
Chilton  and  Daniel,  Rev.  Mr.  Starr  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Baily — Annual  Meeting  of 
1852. — Mr.  Slaughter's  Report — Speeches 
of  Bishop  Payne,  Rev.  Mr.  Moore  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Read — Mr.  Howard's  Resolution  and 
Rev.  Isaac  Tinsley's  Amendment. — Annual 
Meeting  of  1853 — Speech  of  Mr.  Thomp- 
son of  Indiana — Passage  of  Bill — A  Meet- 
ing of  1855 — Speeches  of  Messrs.  Gurley, 
Doggett  and  Burrows — Dr.  Lee's  Speech  at 
Washington,  and  Mr.  Slaughter's  Resolu- 
tions. 
The  next  annual  meeting  was  held  in  the 

House  of   Delegates   in  Richmond,  on  the 

13th  of  February,  1851. 


Resolved,  That  the  scheme  of  Coloniza- 
tion originating  in  the  Legislature  of  1776, 
and  sustained  by  many  succeeding  Legisla- 
ture's, and  by  the  authority  of  Jeffer.-on, 
Madison,  Monroe  and  Marshall,  is  entitled 
to  be  regarded  as  a  measure  of  Virginian 
policy,  having  high  claims  to  the  confidence 
of  all  Virginians. 

Mr.  Dorman  then  made  an  eloquent  ad- 
dress, exhibiting  the  Colonization  Society  as 
offering  to  the  temperate  wisdom  of  all  par- 
ties and  all  sections  a  common  ground  of  re- 
sistance to  the  reckless  enterprises  of  Abo- 


Mr.  John  Januey,  of  Loudoun,  then  ro.-e 
and  said  for  fear  that  silence  would  be  con- 
strued into  indifference,  after  the  invitation 
which  had  just  been  given  him,  made  a  few 
earnest  and  appropriate  remarks,  concluding 
with  the  resolution  : 

That  the  Colonization  of  the  free  people 
of  color  in  Virginia  on  the  coast  of  Africa  or 


elsewhere,  is 
sity. 


a  political  and  social  neces- 


The   Virginian  History  of  African   Colonization. 


101 


Judge  Moncure  in  answer  to  i  call,  advo- 
cated the  cause  of  African  Colonization  with 
warmth  and  power,  demonstrating  it  to  be 
the  cause  of  patriotism,  policy  and  huraani- 

ty- 

Hon.  Samuel  Chilton  followed  with  some 
striking  illustrations  of  the  growing  and 
prospective  commerce  of  Liberia,  and  urg- 
ing a  special  effort  for  the  collection  of  mo- 
ney for  carrying  on  this  impoitant  work  of 
State  policy. 

Peter  V.  Daniel,  Jr.,  invoked  the  aid  of 
the  public  press  in  publishing  ficts  connect- 
ed with  the  history  and  merits  of  African 
Colonization  as  by  recommer.drig  its  objects 
and  plans. 

The  Annual  meeting  for  185;'  was  held  in 
the  Capitol  at  Richmond  on  the  20th  of  Feb- 
ruary. Gov.  J.  B.  Floyd,  the  President,  took 
the  chair,  and  the  Rev.  P.  Slaughter  read  the 
Report. 

The  Rev.  T.  V.  Moore  offered  the  follow- 
ing resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  scheme  of  African  Col- 
onization is  one  of  wise  policy  and  Christian 
charity,  consistent  with  the  lessons  taught  us 
alike  by  the  history  of  the  pas1,,  the  facts  of 
the  present,  and  the  prospects  of  ihe  future 

Mr.  Moore  illustrated  the  piopositions  in 
this  resolution  with  great  felhity,  and  ex- 
pounded clearly  and  beautifully  the  philoso- 
phy of  the  scheme  of  African  Colonization. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Read  followed  Mr.  Moore 
with  an  address  of  marked  ability  and  deep 
interest,  filling  up  the  outline -sketched  by 
Mr.  Moore  with  some  new  and  pleasing  fea- 
tures, and  setting  forth  the  commanding 
claims  of  the  subject  upon  patriots  and 
Christians. 

The  Rt.  Rev.  John  Payne,  the  missionary 
Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  Africa,  who  had  recently  c<  me  from  Li- 
beria, where  he  had  been  residing  for  thir- 
teen years,  then  made  interest!  ig  statements 
of  the  results  of  his  personal  observations, 
concluding  with  the  opinion  that  the  "in- 
creasing spirit  of  industry  in  Liberia,  gave 
encouraging  promise  that  she  would  become 
a  respectable  and  permanent  community." 
He  said  the  white  missions  and  the  colonies 


were  reciprocally  necessary  to  each  other, 
and  showed  by  historical  facts  that  missions 
and  colonization  had  ever  been  God's  gene- 
ral plan  of  propagating  the  Gospel. 

Mr.  John  Howard  then  moved  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee  to  prepare  and  present 
to  the  Legislature  a  memorial  praying  that 
the  State  appropriation  should  be  so  changed 
as  to  allow  the  application  of  $50  instead  of 
$25,  to  the  transportation  of  each  emigrant. 

Mr.  H.  made  some  forcible  remarks,  set- 
ting forth  reasons  for  the  modifications  of  the 
act  of  Assembly. 

After  some  suggestions  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Tinsley,  the  motion  was  carried. 

The  committee  consisted  of  the  following 
persons — John  Howard,  John  B.  Floyd,  Wm. 
H.  Macfarland,  T.  H.  Ellis,  George  Johnton 
and  S.  S.  Baxter. 

The  chairman  of  the  committee,  Mr.  H  ow, 
ard,  prepared  a  very  able  memorial,  which 
has  been  printed  among  the  documents  of 
the  Society,  and  had  a  wide  circulation  in 
the  newspapers.  Its  lucid  order,  strong  ar- 
guments, happy  illustrations  and  glowing 
style  attracted  the  public  attention,  and 
doubtless  contributed  to  the  attainment  of 
the  objects  prayed  for  by  the  memorialists. 

In  March,  1852,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Slaughter 
with  the  approbation  of  the  Board  of  Mana- 
gers, established  the  Virginia  Colonization- 
ist,  a  monthly  newspaper,  in  the  city  of 
Richmond.  The  design  of  this  newspaper 
was  to  supply  an  organ  for  the  discussion  of 
the  subject  of  African  Colonization  from  the 
Southern  Stand-point,  as  many  Southern 
men  were  unwilling  to  trust  the  treatment 
of  questions  touching  the  colored  race  to  any 
persons  who  were  not  identified  in  position, 
principles  and  sympathies  with  us. 

la  the  South  we  have  peculiar  institutions. 
No  one  who  looks  at  these  institutions  from 
a  Northern  Stand-point  can  appreciate  our 
circumstances.  They  may  be  honest  and 
'patriotic  men,  but  circumstances  modify  our 
appreciations,  and  they  cannot  heartily  sym- 
pathise with  us. 

During  the  year  1852  six  vessels  sailed 
from  the  United  States  to  Liberia,  with  666 
emigrants,  of  whom  403  were  born  free,  38 


102 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


purchased  themselves,  and  225  were  eman- 
cipated. The  revenue  of  the  American 
Colonization  Society  for  the  same  year  was 
about  $50,000,  of  which  $9,500  were  con- 
tributed by  Virginia.  The  sums  paid  by  each 
State  into  the  Treasury  at  Washington  do 
not  represent  the  amount  of  contributions  in 
each  State  to  the  cause  of  Colonization. — 
Each  Society  expends  within  her  own  bor- 
ders such  sums  as  the  State  Society  deems 
expedient  for  keeping  up  her  State  organiza- 
tion, collecting  emigrants  and  diffusing  infor- 
mation through  the  media  of  newspapers, 
pamphlets  and  other  agencies.  For  exam- 
ple, the  New  York  Society  expends  five  or 
six  thousand  dollars  per  annum  in  newspa- 
pers and  other  agencies  for  carrying  on  the 
war  with  her  relentless  enemies,  the  Aboli- 
tionists. 

In  1852  we  colonized  from  Virginia  !71 
emigrants.  The  whole  amount  of  money 
accruing  to  the  cause  of  colonization  in  Vir- 
ginia for  this  year  was  $11,000.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Slaughter  prepared  and  put  into  circula- 
tion at  this  time,  for  the  use  of  members  of 
the  Legislature  and  other  persons  desiring 
information,  a  pamphlet  containing  "  Mr. 
Howard's  Memorial"  and  "  Mr.  Slaughter's 
Address  to  the  Legislature,"  with  letters  from 
Commodores  Stockton,  Perry,  Mayo  and 
Marston,  expressing  the  results  of  their  ob- 
servations upon  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  an 
important  event  of  this  year  was  the  election 
of  John  H.  B.  Latrobe,  of  Baltimore,  to  the 
Presidency  of  the  American  Colonization 
Society.  Mr.  Latrobe  is  a  lawyer  of  a  high 
order  of  talent,  and  of  unblemished  charac- 
ter, who,  through  evil  and  good  report,  has 
thrown  the  whole  weight  of  his  character 
and  talent  into  the  scale  of  our  noble  charity. 

On  the  17th  of  February,  1853,  the  Annual 
meeting  of  the  Colonization  Society  of  Vir- 
ginia was  held  in  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Richmond.  It  was  attended  by  a 
most  respectable  audience,  notwithstanding 
many  competing  attractions  in  the  city  on 
the  same  evening. 

William  H.  McFarland  presided,  and  the 
meeling  was  opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Jeter  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Slaughter  read  his  Report, 
shewing  the  onward  progress  of  the  work  not 
only  in  Virginia,  but  in  the  United  States. 

Mr.  R.  G.  Scott  introduced  Mr.  R.  W. 
Thompson,  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  for  many 
years  a  distinguished  member  of  Congress 
from  Indiana.  Mr.  Thompson  made  a  very 
powerful  speech  in  which  he  laid  bare  the 
morbid  anatomy  of  Northern  and  English 
sympathisers  with  the  alleged  wrongs  of  the 
slave.  There  was  a  chain  of  clear  reasoning 
throughout  the  speech,  along  which  streamed 
occasional  flashes  of  genuine  eloquence. — 
He  placed  the  colonization  cause  upon  broad 
grounds  of  policy  and  humanity,  to  which  no 
Southern  man  could  reasonably  object. 

The  questions  arising  out  of  the  presence 
of  so  large  a  free  colored  population  in  our 
midst  were  very  freely  discussed  in  the  Leg- 
islature at  this  session.  Divers  schemes 
were  suggested  in  debate  for  their  removal, 
more  or  less  stringent  in  their  provisions. — 
They  were  all  referred  to  the  Committee  of 
Courts  of  Justice,  the  chairman  of  which 
(Mr.  Miller  of  Botetourt)  reported  a  bill  for 
their  colonization  in  Liberia. 

This  bill,  alter  being  discussed  by  M«-s>rs. 
Rutherfoord  of  Goochland,  Browne  of  Staf- 
ford, Poulson,  Miller  and  others,  was  passed 
with  amendments. 

Among  the  members  most  active  and  in- 
fluential in  its  support  was  Mr.  John  M. 
peed  of  Lynchburg. 

•  he  b.ll  is  as  follows : 

AN  ACT. 

Establishing  a  Colonization  Board  and  ma- 
king an  appropriation  for  the  removal  of 
free  persons  from  the  Commonwealth,  passed 
JlprilSth,  1853. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly, 
that  the  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  shall 
be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  appropriated  to 
be  paid  annually  for  the  period  of  five  years 
out  of  any  money  in  the  Treasury  not  other- 
wise appropriated  for  the  purposes  and  in 
the  manner  herein  after  prescribed. 

Be  it  further  enacted,  thnt  the  Secretary 
of  the  Commonwealth,  the  Auditor  of  Pub- 
lic Accounts  and  Second  Auditor,  and  tin  ir 
successors  in  office,  and  four  other  coinpt- 


The  Virginian  Histtiry  of  African  Colonization 


103 


tent  persons,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Gover- 
nor, shall  constitute  a  board  for  the  purpose 
of  carrying  into  effect  the  provisions  of  this 
act.  The  said  board  shall  be  denominated 
"the  Colonization  Board,"  any  three  of 
whose  number  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for 
the  transaction  of  business. ^"The  said  Colo- 
nization Board,"  may  sue  and  be  sued  in 
any  form  of  action  ;  shall  cause  a  journal  of 
their  proceedings  to  be  kept;  shall  keep  an 
exact  account  of  all  moneys  disbursed  under 
authority  of  this  act,  and  shall  make  a  bien- 
nial report  thereof  to  the  General  Assembly, 
showing  the  names,  ages,  and  sex  of  such 
free  negroes  as  may  be  transported  from  this 
commonwealth  and  the  counties,  cities  or 
boroughs  from  which  they  may  have  been 
respectively  transported,  together  with  such 
other  facts  and  suggestions  as  they  may  deem 
proper. 

The  said  Colonization  Board  shall  have 
authority  to  receive  donations  and  bequests, 
when  made  in  aid  of  the  Colonization  Soci- 
ety of  Virginia,  and  the  said  board  shall 
dispose  of  such  donations  and  bequests  for 
the  removal  of  free  negroes  to  Liberia  agree- 
ably to  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Whenever  satisfactory  proof  shall  be  pro- 
duced to  the  said  board,  that  any  free  ne- 
groes now  free  or  born  of  free  parents,  and 
residents  of  this  State,  shall  have  betn  actu- 
ally transported  to  the  Colony,  at  Liberia,  or 
other  place  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa, 
or  that  they  shall  have  been  embarked  for 
Iransportation  thither,  from  within  the  limits 
of  this  commonwealth  by  the  Virginia  Colo- 
nization Society,  it  shall  be  lawful,  and  the 
.said  board  are  hereby  required  to  issue  their 
warrant  upon  the  treasury  of  this  common- 
wealth for  such  sum  or  sums  of  money  as 
may  be  necessary  to  defray  the  costs  of  trans- 
porting and  subsisting  such  free  negroes  for 
a  limited  time  on  the  said  coast  of  Africa, 
payable  to  the  authorized  and  accredited 
agents  of  the  said  Colonization  Society  ;  pro- 
vided that  the'sum  or  sums  which  may  from 
time  to  time  be  thus  expended,  shall  in  no 
one  year  exceed  the  amount  hereby  appro- 
priated for  such  year,  unless  there  may  be 
an  unexpended  balance  of  former  appropri- 
ations ;  and  provided  further  that  not  more 
than  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  shall  be  allowed 


liy  said  board  for  the  transportation  and  sub- 
sistence as  aforesaid  of  any  free  negro. 

Be  it  further  enacted,  that  an  annual  tax 
of  one  dollar  shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby 
levied,  upon  every  free  male  negro  of  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  and  under  fifty-five 
years,  to  be  ascertained  and  assessed  on  each 
liy  the  Commissioner  of  the  Revenue  in 
every  year,  and  collected  by  the  Sheriff  or 
other  Collector  of  the  public  revenue  as 
other  public  taxes  and  levies  upon  free  ne- 
groes are  collected.  All  such  taxes  shall  be 
accounted  for  with  the  Auditor  in  the  pres- 
ent year,  and  every  year  hereafter,  and  paid 
into  the  Treasury  as  other  public  taxes;  and  an 
account  thereof  shall  be  raised  on  the  books 
of  the  Auditor  and  Treasurer.  The  fund 
arising  from  this  source  shall  be  applied  to 
the  removal  of  free  negroes  from  the  Com- 
monwealth in  the  manner  prescribed  in  the 
preceding  sections  of  this  act,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  the  appropriation  therein  made.  And 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  County  or  Corpo- 
i  ation  Courts  to  charge  the  legal  tax  for  the 
seal  of  Courts  and  attestation  of  every  copy 
of  registration  delivered  by  them  to  any  free 
negro,  and  to  account  with  the  Auditor  of 
Public  Accounts  for  such  tax,  and  pay  the 
s-ame  into  the  Treasury  as  other  taxes  in  law 
process,  except  that  they  shall  designate  the 
same  so  as  to  enable  the  Auditor  and  Trea- 
surer to  enter  all  such  moneys  to  the  account 
directed  to  be  raised  in  the  preceding  part  of 
this  section,  and  the  same  shall  be  applied  to 
the  object  thereof. 

The  act  of  the  eleventh  of  March,  eigh- 
teen hundred  and  fifty,  entitled  an  act  ma- 
king an  appropriation  for  the  removal  of  free 
persons,  is  hereby  repealed. 

This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  its  passage. 

The  foregoing  law  which  was  passed  at 
the  instance  of  the  society,  is  a  great  im- 
provement upon  previous  legislation.  The 
"  Board"  which  it  establishes,  was  organized 
»m  the  2nd  of  May,  by  the  election  of  Geo. 
\V.  Munford  as  President,  and  John  Howard 
as  Secretary.  The  other  members  are  the 
first  and  second  Auditors,  Messrs.  P.  R. 
Grattan,  T.  H.  Ellis  and  John  O.  Steger, 
men  whose  character  and  intelligence  com- 
mand the  public  respect  and  confidence. — 
These  gentlemen  deserve  the  thanks  of  the 
Society  and  of  the  Commonwealth  for  the 


104 


The   Virginian  History  of  African   Cc  lonization. 


diligence  and  courtesy  with  which  they  have 
done  gratuitously  the  duties  devolved  upon 
them.  This  Board  have  made  a  full  report 
of  their  doings  to  the  Legislature  and  sug- 
gested several  amendments  to  the  existing 
law.  Governor  Johnson,  in  his  message, 
speaks  of  the  report  as  an  interesting  one, 
and  commends  the  proposed  amendments  as 
judicious.  The  following  facts  illustrate  the 
workings  of  this  law.  In  1853  the  Society 
sent  from  Virginia,  to  Liberia,  241  emigrants, 
of  whom  146  were  entitled  to  $50  each  from 
the  State  treasury. 

Many  of  the  remaining  96  were  recogni- 
zed in  their  neighbourhood  as  free  negroes, 
but  it  was  impossible  to  procure  legal  evi- 
dence of  their  freedom,  and  consequently 
did  not  draw  any  thing  from  the  treasury  for 
their  transportation.  The  entire  sum  accru- 
ing to  the  cause  of  Colonization  in  Virginia 
in  1853,  was  $14,000.  This  includes  $7,300 
from  the  State  treasury,  which  was  as  much 
the  fruit  of  the  society's  labors,  as  any  other 
item  of  its  revenue — the  Legislature  always 
making  its  appropriations  at  the  solicitation 
of  the  Society. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Colonization 
Society  of  Virginia,  in  February  1855,  was 
a  very  interesting  and  encouraging  one.  The 
business  of  the  society  having  been  dispatch- 
ed during  the  previous  week,  a  meeting  was 
called  at  the  Presbyterian  church  for  the 
purpose  of  presenting  the  missionary  and 
religious  aspects  of  the  Colonization  enter- 
prize.  The  Christian  Advocate  said,  "  the 
flower  of  Richmond  was  present ;  we  doubt 
if  the  city  could  furnish  a  more  polished, 
thoughtful  and  intelligent  audience  than 
crowded  Dr.  Moore's  elegant  church  edifice 
on  Sunday  afternoon/'  There  was  a  large 
number  of  ministers  of  the  gospel  present, 
representing  all  the  Protestant  denomina- 
tions of  the  city.  The  meeting  was  opened 
with  prayer  by  the  Pastor  ot  the  church. — 
The  Missionary  Hymn  was  sung  with  fine 
effect.  The  Rev.  P.  Slaughter  made  a  brief 
statement  of  the  leading  facts  and  principles 
of  the  report,  instead  of  reading  the  report 
itself.  He  then  introduced  to  the  audience 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Doggett  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  who  delivered  a  very  able, 
lucid  and  effective  speech,  which  the  society 
hopes  to  embody  with  its  permanent  docu- 


ments. He  ,vas  followed  by  the  Rev.  R.  R. 
Gurley,  wno  lias  since  visited  Africa  with 
reference  :.o  nterests  of  Liberia.  Mr.  Gur- 
ley made  son>e  touching  allusions  to  his  for- 
mer visits  to  Richmond  more  than  twenty 
years  ago,  and  reported  the  results  of  his 
personal  observations  in  Liberia,  which  were 
very  encouraging  to  the  friends  of  African 
Colonization.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Burrows  of  the 
Baptist  churc!i,  after  a  few  felicitous  remarks, 
excused  himself  from  detaining  the  audience 
at  this  late  hour.  He  barely  had  time  to 
express  hi.«  cordial  approbation  of  the  cause, 
"  to  allude  to  the  moral  condition  of  Africa, 
typified  by  her  own  great  Sahara,"  and  to 
give  utterance  to  the  conviction  that  the 
"  evangelizat  on  of  that  continent  depended 
mainly  upon  .he  introduction  of  the  gospel 
through  the  coor  opened  by  the  Colonization 
•Society." 

The  annua!  report  read  on  this  occasion, 
drew  the  line  of  distinction  between  the  Vir- 
ginian and  the  American  Societies,  showing 
that  the  former  is  more  distinct  from  and  in- 
dependent of  the  latter,  than  the  State  of 
Virginia  is  from  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica. II  trace*  the  influence  of  the  Virginia 
society  in  keeping  the  American  society 
within  the  limitations  of  the  Constitution. 
The  late  Anniversary  of  the  Americarr  Su 
ciety  furnishes  two  pertinent  instances  of  the 
agency  of  the  delegate  from  Virginia  in  this 
respect,  as  will  appear  by  the  following  ex- 
tract from  the  report. 

Complaints  having  been  made  in  the  South 
that  the  American  society  had  admitted  dis- 
cussions into  a  few  of  its  annual  reports  and 
into  the  colunns  of  its  organ,  the  African 
Repository,  inconsistent  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Constitution,  our  representative,  the 
Rev.  P.  Sliurhter,  introduced  the  following 
resolutions  : 

Whereas,  tlie  exclusive  design  of  the  Ame- 
rican Colonization  Society,  as  declared  in  its 
fundament il  law,  is  to  remove,  with  their 
own  consent,  the  free  colored  people  of  the 
United  State,  lo  Africa;  and  wherea-.  in 
carrying  out  .his  principle,  this  Board  hu' 
ordered  tint  vll  suggestions  and  schemes  of 
emancipation  shall  be  excluded  from  the 
African  Depository  and  other  official  docu- 
ments of  thh  society;  and  whereas,  it  is 
necessary  to  the  consummation  of  this  puliry 


The   Virvinien  History  of  African   Colonization. 


105 


that  the  same  principle  should  be  applied  tojginia  in  1854,  was  553,  of  whom  273  were 
the  conduct  of  the  public  meetings  of  the  from  Virginia.  The  revenue  of  the  Colo- 
Society,  therefore,  nization  Society  of  Virginia  in  1854,  was 
Resolved,  That  the  Executive  Committee  $13,009.  The  whole  sum  contributed  in 
should  have  strict  regard  to  this  principle  in  Virginia,  including  $2,000  sent  directly  to 
all  arrangements  for  our  annual  meetings.  |  Washington,  was  about  $1,500.  The  273 


Resolved,  That  no  persons,  other  than  those 
chosen  by  the  Executive  Committee,  shall 
be  permitted  to  make  speeches  at  our  public 
meetings,  without  a  vote. 

After  an  animated  discussion,   these  reso 


emigrants  from  Virginia,  were  distributed  as 
follows,  viz. :  Alexandria  6 — Amherst  18 — 
Manchester  17 — King  George  13 — Nanse- 
mond  15 — Henrico  39 — Madison  2 — Peters- 
burg 2 — Norfolk  1 — Richmond  13 — Fauquier 


lutions  were  adopted  with  but  one  dissenting  54 — Loudon  12 — Portsmouth  19 — Botetourt 
voice.  The  last  resolution  was  intended  to]  14 — Jefferson  4 — Big  Lick  8 — Berkeley  8 — 
meet  a  particular  case  which  had  occurred  a  Hampshire  9 — Rockbridge  9 — Princess  Ann 
few  days  before  at  the  anniversary  of  the j 7.  From  Eastern  Virginia  229.  Fro/n  Wes- 
American  Colonization  Society.  The  meet-  tern  Virginia  4S. 


ing  having  been  addressed  by  the  Governor 
of  Connecticut,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Haight  and 
Commander  Foote  of  the  Navy,  and  being 
about  1o  adjourn,  Col.  Baldwin  of  Western 
New  York  requested  permission  to  make  a 
few  remarks.  He  said  that  he  was  not  a 


The  following  persons  were  elected  offi- 
cers of  the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia 
for  the  ensuing  year,  viz  : 

President — Col.  John  Rutherfoord. 

Vice-Presidents—R.  G.  Scott,  William  H. 
Macfarland,  Henry  A.  Wise,  Geo.  W.  Sum- 


member  of  the  society — but  wished  to  sug-jmers,  Judge  Moncure,  Andrew  Stephenson, 
gest  to  it  some  reflections  which  he  thought  ,J.  C.  Bruce,  Philip  Williams,  Alexander 
would  greatly  increase  its  usefulness.  He  j  Steuart.  Tazewell  Taylor,  Judge  Caskie,  J. 
then  proposed  that  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  McDowell  Reid,  Judge  Tyler,  Ballard  Pres- 
the  public  lands  should  be  applied  to  the  j  ton,  Judge  Lee,  John  M.  Speed,  Wyndham 
purchase  of  slaves  who  should  be  colonized!  Robertson,  Thos.  J.  Michie,  John  H.  Cocke, 


on  our  Western  frontier,  or  in  Liberia,  &c., 
He  was  evidently  an  intelligent  and  well- 
meaning  man,  acknowledging  the  constitu- 
tional rights  of  the  South,  and  would  do  no- 
thing without  th^ir  consent  and  cooperation. 
But  as  he  misrepresented  the  views  of  the 
society,  it  was  deemed  expedient  by  the  Vir- 


Wm.  Maxwell  and  John  Janney. 

Managers — P.  V.  Daniel,  Jr.,  James  Tho- 
mas, John  O.  Steger,  R.  Whitfield,  Samuel 
Putney,  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Gwathmey,  Nicholas 
Mills/Dr.  Merritt,  P.  R.  Grattan,  Michael 
Gretter,  John  C.  Hobson,  John  Howard,  Dr. 
Wm.  P.  Palmer,  Fleming  James,  Wm.  H. 


ginia    delegates    that    his    misapprehension  Haxall,  James  Dunlop,   Jacqueline   P.  Tay- 
should  be  corrected,  lest  the  society  should  lor,  H.  A.  Claiborne  and  John  M.  Patton,  Jr. 

Recording  Secretary — Frederick  Bransford. 
Corresponding  Secretary — P.  V.  Daniel,  Jr. 


be  suspected  of  sympathising  with  his  views 
This  was  very  conclusively  and  happily  done 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lee,  who  set  forth  distinctly 
and  luminously  the  powers  and  purposes  of 
our  association.  Dr.  Lee's  remarks  were 
well  received  and  relieved  the  society  of  any 
wrong  inferences  that  might  have  been  de- 
rived from  Mr.  Baldwin's  remarks.  It  was 
to  prevent  any  such  contingency  for  the  fu- 
ture, that  the  last  of  the  foregoing  resolu- 
tions was  moved  and  carried. 

Thus  have  the  delegates  from  Virginia 
striven  to  shut  every  door  to  the  intrusion 
into  the  official  proceedings  of  the  society, 
of  any  topics  foreign  to  its  legitimate  aims. 

The  whole  number  of  emigrants  from  Vir-! 


Treasurer — Thomas  H.  Ellis. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Jlfrica  and  America  ;  Their  providential  re- 
lations;  The  lesson  it  teaches;  African 
Colonization  a  great  Missionary  scheme  ; 
Remarkable  agreement  of  Christians  upon 
this  subject ;  Proceedings  of  ecclesiastical 
bodies  in  Virginia.  The  failure  of  all  white 
missions  before  the  settlement  of  Liberia  ; 
Sierra  Leone,  Wesleyan,  Episcopal,  Baptist, 
Presbyterian,  and  other  mission  stations, 
without  the  limits  of  Liberia.  . 
No  American  Christian  can  shut  his  eyes 


14 


106 


The  Virginian  History  of  'African  Colonization. 


to  the  relations  which  God  has  established 
between  America  the  most  highly  favored 
and  Africa  the  most  degraded  nation  on  earth. 

When  the  "  Sun  of  Righteousness"  made 
his  sun-like  circuit  of  the  earth,  he  did  not 
shed  a  ray  upon  the  land  of  the  black  man. 
Millions  in  Central  Africa  had  (through  long 
centuries)  lived  without  God  and  died  with- 
out hope.  When  at  last  the  Church  of  Christ 
awoke  to  a  consciousness  of  its  responsibili- 
ties and  made  the  discovery  of  the  melan- 
choly state  of  this  people,  it  sent  forth  mis- 
sionary after  missionary  to  plant  the  standard 
of  the  cross  within  this  camp  of  Satan. 

Every  white  missionary  fell  a  victim  to 
the  deadly  night  dews  of  that  inhospitable 
clime,  and  the  bones  of  a  "  noble  army  of 
martyrs"  bleached  the  burning  sands. 

To  human  view  the  land  seemed  doomed. 
In  the  meantime  God  had  permitted  large 
numbers  of  Africans  to  be  transplanted  in 
America  and  placed  in  contact  with  our 
Christian  civilization,  under  the  wholesome 
discipline  to  which  they  were  subjected  they 
have  been  rising  steadily  in  the  intellectual 
and  moral  scale  until  they  have  attained  a 
stature  far  higher  than  those  whom  they  left 
in  their  native  seats.  Thousands  of  them 
have  been  made  acquainted  with  "  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  Jesus,"  and  have  died  in  the  tri- 
umphs of  the  Christian  faith.  Thousands 
more  are  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  glory.  This 
is  "the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvellous  in 
our  eyes."  No  thinking  man  can  deny  the 
significance  of  facts  like  these,  and  no  con- 
scientious man  can  be  indifferent  to  the  ques- 
tions of  duty  which  they  revive.  We  have 
only  to  deal  with  these  facts  in  their  bearing 
upon  the  question  of  the  evangelization  of 
Africa.  Some  years  since  while  Christians 
were  consciously  pondering  the  problem  of 
planting  the  Gospel  in  Africa,  the  happy 
thought  was  suggested  to  their  minds  (by  the 
spirit  of  God  as  we  believe)  of  returning  to 
the  land  of  their  fathers,  christianised  Afri- 
cans, carrying  with  them  the  ark  of  God  and 
all  the  institutions  of  modern  civilization. — 
Happily  there  was  a  class  of  these  persons 
(the  free  negroes)  to  whose  going  no  objec- 
tion would  be  opposed.  Indeed,  all  inter- 
ests, social  and  political,  conspired  to  favor 
tho  suggestion.  The  experiment  was  made 
and  considering  the  poverty  of  the  materials 


has  succeeded  beyond  our  anticipations. — 
Our  civil  and  religious  institutions  have  been 
transplanted  in  the  African  wilderness  which 
has  become  vocal  with  the  accents  of  prayer 
and  praise.  Under  the  shadow  of  the  Libe- 
rian  government,  the  white  missionary  can 
now  live,  and  the  centre  of  African  barba- 
rism has  become  the  centre  of  Christian  in- 
fluence. African  colonization  has  thus  push- 
ed the  base  of  our  missionary  operations 
across  the  Atlantic,  4,000  miles  in  advance 
of  its  former  position.  Now  ought  this  van- 
tage-ground, gained  at  such  expense,  to  be 
maintained  or  abandoned.  The  colony  is  yet 
but  an  experiment.  It  needs  still  our  nurs- 
ing care.  Cherish  it  and  Christianity  will 
have  a  home  in  Africa.  The  colonist  and 
the  missionary  must  stand  or  fall  together. 
"  Missions  and  colonization,"  says  Bishop 
Payne,  "  have  ever  been  God's  great  scheme 
for  spr^ding  Christianity  over  the  world" — 
and  again  he  says  it  is  generally  agreed 
among  Christians  "  that  colonization  is  one 
of  God's  plans." 

Bishop  Scott  after  visiting  the  Methodist 
churches  in  Liberia,  calls  the  Colonial  settle- 
ments bright  spots  raying  out  light  upon  the 
surrounding  darkness."  Of  the  same  report 
is  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Bowen  and  the  Bap- 
tist missionaries,  and  Mr.  Wilson  and  the 
Presbyterians.  If  we  compare  for  a  moment 
the  present  s^tate  of  American  missions  in 
Liberia  with  their  condition  before  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Colonies,  the  comparison 
will  be  most  instructive.  The  Methodist 
,  Conference  consists  of  twenty-one  preach- 
|ers.  all  or  whom  are  colored.  They  number 
1,301  members,  of  whom  116  are  natives. — 
!  Fifteen  Sunday  schools  and  839  scholars,  of 
'  whom  fifty  are  natives.  Twenty  week  day 
schools  and  five  hundred  and  thirteen  schol- 
lars ;  seven  native  schools  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty-seven  scholars.  They  have  a 
seminary  at  Monrovia  for  the  higher  branches 
which  cost  $10,000. 

The  Baptist  Board  (whose  pioneer  was 
Lot  Gary  of  Virginia)  have  fifteen  stations, 
twenty  colored  missionaries,  seven  teachers, 
four  native  assistants,  thirteen  day  schools 
and  four  hundred  and  thirty-six  pupils — six 
hundred  communicants. 

The  Presbyterians  have  two  ordained  min- 
one  licentiate,  three  churches,  one 


The   Virginian  History  of  African   Colonization. 


107 


hundred  and  sixteen  members  and  three 
Sunday  schools.  They  have  also  day  schools 
for  natives  and  colonists.  At  Monrovia  they 
have  an  excellent  school  of  from  fifty  to 
seventy-five  scholars,  and  at  the  same  place 
the  Alexander  High  School,  under  the  care 
of  the  Rev.  D.  A.  Wilson,  a  fine  scholar. 

The  Episcopal  mission  begun  in  1836,  has 
stations  at  Cape  Palmas,  Monrovia,  Bassa, 
Sinou,  and  Clay-Ashland  on  the  St.  Pauls. 
They  have  a  stone  Church  at  Cape  Palmas 
and  also  an  Orphan  Asylum,  a  brick  church 
on  the  St.  Pauls  and  a  stone  one  at  Monrovia. 

Among  the  Colonists  it  has  four  settled 
ministers  and  one  candidate  for  orders,  four 
common  schools,  one  high  school,  five  teach- 
ers and  assistants,  and  150  scholars. 

Among  the  natives  they  have  five  stations. 
The  language  of  one  tribe  has  been  reduced 
to  writing.  About  one  hundred  native  chil- 
dren are  in  the  boarding  schools  of  the  mis- 
sion. There  are  eight  or  ten  native  teach- 
ers, three  candidates  for  the  ministry,  and 
two  ordained  native  ministers. 

In  view  of  these  facts  what  American 
Christian  can  fail  to  see  that  he  is  under  ob- 
ligation to  follow  the  leading's  of  God's 
Providence.  He  seems  to  have  committed 
Africa  to  our  keeping.  Her  destiny  is  (hu- 
manly speaking)  in  the  hands  of  American 
Christians.  We  have  already  seen  the  re- 
markable agreement  of  politicians  of  all  par- 
ties in  the  wisdom  of  the  scheme  of  African 
Colonization  as  a  measure  of  State  policy. 
The  following  proceedings  of  the  ecclesias- 
tical bodies  of  Virginia,  will  show  a  like 
agreement  among  Christians  of  all  creeds  as 
to  its  missionary  aspect. 

After  a  brief  address  by  the  Rev.  P.  Slaugh- 
ter, the  Baptist  General  Association  of  Vir- 
ginia in  1853,  passed  unanimously  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions. 

On  motion  of  Elder  Wm.  F.  Broaddus,  the 
following  resolutions  were  passed  unani- 
mously : 

Resolved,  That  the  subject  of  African  col- 
onization is,  in  our  judgment,  a  wise  mea- 
sure of  State  policy,  and  a  worthy  object  of 
Christian  sympathy  and  support. 

Resolved,  That  we  have  entire  confidence 
in  the  Colonization  Society  of  Virginia,  and 
invoke  lor  its  Agents  the  kind  co-operation 
of  the  Baptists  of  Virginia. 


Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  our  breth- 
ren in  the  ministry  to  present  this  subject  to 
their  congregations  on  some  Sabbath  in  the 
year/  and  take  up  a  collection  for  the  Colo- 
nization Society  of  Virginia. 

Signed.          J.  B.  JETER,  Moderator. 

All  who  were  present  recollect  the  flatter- 
ing testimonies  borne  by  Elders  Ball  and 
Bowen,  to  the  flourishing  state  of  the  colo- 
nies in  Liberia.  They  testified  what  they 
had  seen.  No  one  can  have  forgotten  their 
warm  exhortations  to  cherish  these  colonies 
as  great  agencies  of  Providence  for  giving 
Christianity  a  home  in  Africa.  One  of  these 
brethren  has  since  gone  to  give  an  account 
of  his  stewardship,  and  we  doubt  not  looks 
back  with  joy  to  his  labors  of  love  for  poor 
benighted  Africa.  The  other  still  toils  be- 
neath her  burning  sun,  patiently  waiting  for 
the  crown  of  martyrdom. 

Resolutions  of  the  Episcopal  Convention  of 
Virginia. 

"  Rev.  Mr.  Slaughter  presented  the  fol- 
lowing preamble  and  resolutions,  which 
were  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Whereas,  this  Convention  is  informed  of 
the  re-organization  of  the  Colonization  So- 
ciety of  Virginia,  whose  object  is  to  coope- 
rate with  the  American  Colonization  Society 
in  sending  back  to  the  land  of  their  fathers 
the  free  colored  of  this  State.  And,  where- 
as, it  is  believed  that  the  success  which  has 
attended  the  scheme  of  African  Coloniza- 
tion, encourages  the  hope  that  it  will  do 
more  than  any  other  plan  which  has  been 
suggested  for  the  solution  of  the  difficult, 
social,  political  and  religious  problems  arising 
out  of  the  providential  presence  of  this 
class  of  persons  amongst  us,  and  furnishes 
strong  reasons  for  believing  that  the  Chris- 
tian commonwealth  which  it  has  planted  in 
the  very  centre  of  African  barbarism — by 
means  of  its  churches  and  schools,  as  well 
as  by  the  protection  and  encouragement  it 
affords  to  our  missionaries  to  the  Heathen, 
and  by  being  in  itself  the  nursery  of  native 
colored  missionaries — is  one  of  the  chief  in- 
struments by  which  Divine  Providence  will 
fulfil  his  own  prophecy,  that  '  Ethiopia  shall 
soon  stretch  forth  her  hand  unto  God.  There- 
fore, 

"  Resolved,  That   this   Convention    doth 


108 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


ommend  to  the  members  and  friends  of  our| 
communion  in  Virginia,  the  subject  of  Afri- 
can Colonization,  as  a  wise  measure  of  State 
policy,  and  a  deserving  object  of  Christian 
charity. 

"  Resolved,  That  it  be  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  the  Ministers  and  Vestries  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  this  Diocese,  to  take 
up  collections  for  this  cause  on  the  Sunday 
preceding  or  succeeding  the  4th  of  July,  or 
at  such  other  time  as  they  may  deem  more 
expedient." 

Resolutions  of  Presbyterian  Synod  of  Vir- 
ginia passed  after  an  address  of  Rev,  P. 
Slaughter  seconded  by  member  of  the  Synod. 

Resolved,  That  the  Ministers  of  this  Sy- 
nod  be   earnestly  recommended  to  present  j 
this   subject   to   the    several   congregations , 
with  which  they  are    connected,    at   some 
early  day,  and  take  up  collections  in  its  be- 
half with  a  view  of  giving  efficiency  to  the 
legislation  of  the  State  upon  this  great  mea- 
sure of  State  policy  and  Christian  charity. 

Resolution  of  Methodist  Episcopal  Confer- 
ence South,  after  an  address  by  Rev.  JWr. 
Slaughter  seconded  by  Drs,  Dogget  and  Lee. 

The  Rev.  Jos.  H.  Davis  then  offered  the 
following  resolution,  which  was  passed  unan- 
imously : 

Resolved,  That  this  Conference  recom- 
mend to  the  approval  and  patronage  of  our 
people  generally,  the  interests  of  the  Colon- 
ization Society  of  Virginia,  and  that  we  re- 
commend that  collections  be  taken  up  in  its 
behalf  on  the  Sabbath  preceding  the  4th  of 
July  in  each  year. 

Resolution  of  Baltimore  Conference. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  cause  of 
African  Colonization  with  increasing  favor 
and  will  give  it  our  cordial  support. 

2.  Resolved,  That  we  cordially  commend 
to  the  people  within  the  bounds  of  this  con- 
ference the  Rev.  R.  Given,  agent  for  the 
Pennsylvania  State  Colonization  Society,  the 
Rev.  J.  Seys,  agent  for  the  Maryland  State 
Colonization  Society,  and  the  Rev.  P.  Slaugh- 
ter, agent  for  the  Virginia  State  Coloniza- 
tion Society. 

The  foregoing  fact  will  be  more  instruc- 
tive if  placed  in  contrast  with  the  melancholy 
failure  of  all  previous  efforts  of  white  mis- 
sionaries to  plant  Christianity  permanently 
in  tropical  Africa.  Roman  Catholic  mission- 


aries laboured  in  this  field  for  more  than  two 
hundred  years  without  leaving  a  trace  be- 
hind them  The  Moravians  beginning  in 
1736  toiled  for  thirty  four  years,  making  five- 
attempts  at  the  cost  of  many  lives  and  effect- 
ed nothing.  An  English  effort  made  in 
1792  was  abandoned  in  two  years  with  a  loss 
of  one  hundred  lives.  The  London,  Edin- 
burg  and  Glasgow  Societies  commenced 
three  stations  in  1797  which  were  extinct  in 
three  years,  having  lost  five  out  of  six  mis- 
sionaries. The  London  missionary  Society 
established  ten  stations,  and  nine  of  them 
were  soon  driven  to  take  refuge  in  Sierra 
Leone  the  only  place  in  which  they  would 
labor  with  hope.  The  tenth  was  given  up 
to  the  French.  Thus  did  eighteen  mission- 
ary enterprises,  before  the  settlement  of  Li- 
beria, fail,  while  every  attempt  at  colonizing 
Africa  with  colored  people  and  every  mis- 
sionary effort  connected  with  the  Colonies, 
has  succeeded. 

That  the  reader  may  have  a  general  idea 
of  missionary  operations  in  Western  Africa, 
we  will  notice  briefly  the  several  stations 
besides  Liberia.  The  principal  seat  of  Eng- 
lish operations  is  Sierra  Leone.  When  the 
decision  of  Lord  Mansfield  in  the  case  of 
the  negro  Somerset  established  the  axiom 
that  so  soon  as  a  slave  sets  his  foot  on  Eng- 
lish ground  he  becomes  free,  there  were 
many  negroes  in  London  who  had  been 
brought  to  England  by  their  masters  ;  these 
soon  after  their  emancipation  fell  into  great 
distress  for  want  of  a  competent  support. 
Under  the  auspices  of  Granville  Sharp, 
the  British  government  removed  them  to 
Sieira  Leone  in  1787.  During  the  Ameri- 
can revolution  a  number  of  negroes  were 
seduced  to  join  the  Royal  Standard  and 
were  subsequently  planted  in  Nova  Scotia. 
The  climate  being  too  cold  for  them,  about 
1200  were  removed  at  their  own  request  to 
Sierra  Leone  in  1792.  In  1815  Paul  Cuffee 
induced  forty  blacks  to  go  with  him  at  his 
expense  to  Sierra  Leone.  A  large  accession 
to  its  population  has  been  made  by  negroes 
recaptured  from  the  slave-traders  by  the 
British  Navy.  Its  present  population  is  be- 
tween forty  and  fifty  thousand.  This  settle- 
ment has  suffered  many  disasters,  but  prom- 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


109 


ises  to  survive  them  all.  The  English 
Church  Missionary  Society  was  originally 
established  with  the  view  of  furnishing 
Christian  teachers  to  Sierra  Leone.  This 
Society  says  in  one  of  its  reports  "  It  is  im- 
possible to  estimate  the  importance  of  Sierra 
Leone  as  a  seed  plot  for  the  evangelization 
of  Africa.  There  were  collected  at  this 
point  representatives  of  more  than  200  dif- 
ferent tribes,  speaking  151  distinct  languages 
besides  numerous  dialects  of  the  same. 
These  tribes  lie  along  4000  miles  of  coast 
from  the  Senegal  to  the  Portuguese  settle- 
ments. Tribes  far  distant  in  the  interior 
have  also  their  representatives  in  this  colony. 
The  design  of  the  Society  is  to  instruct  these 
in  the  Christian  religion,  and  send  them  to 
their  own  tribes  speaking  each  in  his  tongue 
the  wonderful  works  of  God. 

"  The  Christian  character  of  these  natives 
has  been  amply  tested  and  has  been  found 
in  many  instances  capable  of  sustaining  with 
consistency  the  pressure  of  service  and  res- 
ponsibility. Many  of  them  have  acted  with 
fidelity  and  intelligence  for  years  as  Gate 
chists,  while  a  few  have  been  admitted  to 
Holy  orders."  Some  three  thousand  of 
these  Africans  have  been  sent  from  Sierra 
Leone  to  Abeokuta,  sixty  miles  north  of  Ba- 
dagry,  where  they  have  erected  churches  in 
the  midst  of  a  large  heathen  population. 

Since  1735  the  English  Wesleyans  have 
multiplied  their  stations  from  Dixcove  300 
miles  east  of  Cape  Palmas.  They  have 
penetrated  to  Kumasi  the  capitol  of  Ashantee. 
They  report  23  places  of  preaching,  23  day- 
schools  and  1000  scholars  ;  809  communi- 
cants and  4700  attendants  on  public  wor- 
ship. The  English  Baptists  have  a  mission 
on  the  Island  of  Fernando  Po.  The  Ger- 
mans have  one  at  Acra. 

The  Church  Missionary  Society  have  be- 
gun a  mission  on  the  eastern  coast  in  latitude 
4°  south.  In  Southern  Africa  the  English 
Wesleyans  alone  report  nearly  5000  atten- 
dants upon  public  worship  and  5000  children 
under  instruction.  The  London  Congrega- 
tional Society  is  exerting  also  a  great  influ- 
ence. The  operations  of  the  Paris  Mission- 
ary Society,  and  of  the  American  Board  are 
also  extensive  and  efficient.  The  Episcopal 


church  in  the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  contem- 
plate a  missionary  colony  in  Western  Alri- 
ca.  The  heroic  Bowen,  the  American  Bap- 
tist missionary,  with  his  brethren  have 
pitched  their  tents  far  in  the  interior  of  Af- 
rica, and  are  calling  for  help  to  occupy 
waste  places  beyond  Abeokuta.  Thus  are 
the  hosts  of  God  penetrating  on  all  sides  the 
stronghold  of  Sin,  Satan  and  Death,  furnish- 
ing a  ground  for  the  hope  that  in  the  good 
time  to  come  the  African  wilderness  "shall 
blossom  like  the  rose."  In  these  latter 
days  when  the  light  of  saving  truth  has  been 
kindled  and  is  growing  brighter  in  almost  all 
the  dark  regions  of  the  globe,  Africa  should 
not  and  will  not  be  forgotten,  for  the  decree 
has  gone  forth  "  Ethiopia  shall  stretch  out 
her  hands  unto  God." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Geography  of  Liberia,  Montserado  County. 
Monrovia,  Georgia,  Caldwell,  Virginia, 
Kentucky,  Millsburg.  The  St.  Paul's 
Junk,  Stockton  and  St.  John's  rivers. 
Marshall.  Bassa  County,  Edina,  Buch- 
anan, Bexley,  Sinou,  Qieenville,  Reedsville, 
Lexington,  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Cape  Pal- 
mas, Harjaer,  Cavalla,  fyc.,  £fc. 

The  territorial  limits  of  the  Republic  of 
Liberia  on  the  sea-coast,  are  the  Sherbro 
river  on  the  north  in  latitude  7-20,  and  the 
grand  Sesters  river  on  the  south  in  latitude 
4-30.  The  distance  between  these  points 
on  the  coast  is  about  500  miles.  It  is  divi- 
ded into  three  counties.  Montserado,  grand 
Bassa  and  Sinou.  Monrovia,  in  Montserado 
County,  is  the  Capitol  of  the  Republic,  and 
has  about  2000  inhabitants.  It  is  located 
near  the  mouth  of  Messurado  river  about 
four  miles  south  east  of  the  entrance  of  the 
St.  Pauls  river  into  the  ocean  on  an  eleva- 
ted site  behind  Cape  Messurado  in  6°16' 
north.  The  summit  of  the  Cape  is  250  feet, 
and  the  highest  point  of  the  town  about  80 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The  town 
rs  partly  hidden  by  the  promontory.  Com- 
mander Lynch  says  the  pitch  of  the  Cape 
is  gently  rounded,  and  would  present  a  rug- 
ged appearance,  were  it  not  covered  with 
the  richest  mantle  of  green  which  I  ever 


110 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


looked  upon.  "Except  a  narrow  strip  of  beach 
with  a  few  outlying  rocks  at  the  water  edge, 
all  is  one  mass  of  foliage  of  tangled  vines 
and  shrubbery  beneath,  and  above,  a  dense 
growth  of  trees  half-concealing  the  light- 
house upon  the  summit  of  the  cape.  The 
houses  in  the  town  are  detached,  being  built 
on  lots  of  a  quarter  of  an  acre  each.  The 
houses  are  generally  one  story  or  a  story  and 
a  half  high,  some  have  two  full  stories.  The 
best  houses  are  built  of  stone  and  brick; 
many  of  them  are  neatly  and  some  hand- 
somely furnished.  In  almost  all  the  yards 
there  are  fruit  trees,  such  as  the  lime,  the 
lemon,  the  banana,  the  tamarind,  the  orange 
and  the  coffee  tree.  On  Broadway,  south 
of  Fort  Hill,  is  the  government  House,  a 
large  stone  building  with  arched  windows 
and  a  balcony  in  front.  The  lower  floor  is 
used  as  a  Court  room  and  printing  office, 
and  the  upper  one  as  the  hall  of  the  Legis- 
lative Council  ;  behind  it  is  the  jail ;  directly 
opposite  is  the  President's  House,  a  double 
two-story  brick  building  with  a  portico,  the 
roof  of  which  is  supported  by  lofty  columns. 
There  are  five  churches  well  attended.  Capt. 
Lynch  says  "  t  never  saw  a  more  thorough 
church  going  community,  nor  heard  a  greater 
rustling  of  silks  when  the  congregation  dis- 
persed. One  of  the  most  gratifying  things 
1  saw  was  the  great  number  of  well  dressed 
and  well  behaved  children." 

The  suburbs,  the  river  and  the  inner  har- 
bor are  commanded  by  Fort  Hill  and  the 
outer  harbor  by  Fort  Norris.  On  the  out- 
skirt  of  the  town  is  a  large  coffee  grove. 
Agriculture  about  Monrovia  is  not  flourish- 
ing, owing  to  the  absorbing  spirit  of  trade 
and  the  poverty  of  the  soil  in  its  vicinity. 
The  town  was  more  prosperous  says  Capt 
Lynch  than  he  had  anticipated.  The  sea 
breeze  at  all  times  blows  directly  over  it, 
and  in  this  respect  it  has  the  advantage  of 
Sierra  Leone.  About  three  miles  above  its 
mouth,  the  St.  Pauls  river  forks ;  the  main 
stream  running  towards  the  ocean,  while  the 
other  branch  (Stockton  creek)  flows  in  a 
south  easterly  direction,  and  unites  with  the 
little  Messurado  river  near  its  mouth  form- 
ing Bushrod  Island.  On  the  south  east,  the 
east  branch  of  Messurado  river  is  separa- 
ted by  a  portage  of  only  five  miles  from  the 


head  of  Junk  river  which  empties  into  the 
ocean  35  miles  below.  Monrovia  is  the  nat- 
ural outlet  of  a  large  extent  of  country. 

NEW  GEORGIA  is  a  small  settlement  on 
Stockton  creek  five  miles  from  Monrovia.  It 
is  peopled  chiefly  by  natives  recaptured  by 
our  Navy  and  sent  to  Liberia  by  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States.  Most  of  them 
have  taken  the  oath  of  Allegiance  ;  many 
have  intermarried  with  Colonists  and  one 
has  been  a  Representative  in  the  Legis- 
lature. 

CALDWELL  is  on  the  St.  Pauls  river,  com- 
mencing about  9  miles  from  Monrovia  and 
running  along  the  river  about  six  miles.  The 
houses  are  from  one  hundred  yards  to  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  apart.  Some  of  the  most 
successful  farmers  reside  here ;  popula- 
tion 400. 

NEW  VIRGINIA,  opposite  to  Caldwell,  was 
settled  in  1846  and  is  the  site  of  the  United 
Slates  receptacle  for  liberated  Africans; 
population  about  400.  The  St.  Pauls  is  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  wide  at  Caldwell  and 
grows  narrower  to  Millsburg  fourteen  miles 
from  its  mouth. 

Commander  Lynch  says,  that  after  pass- 
ing Caldwell  the  river  becomes  bold  and 
swiftly  flowing  and  the  banks  being  dotted 
with  farm  houses,  it  was  like  the  shifting  of 
a  scene  in  a  theatre,  and  he  gazed  with  sat- 
isfaction at  the  beautiful  sight.  The  banks 
were  from  10  to  30  feet  high.  On  each  side 
is  a  cultivated  belt  with  a  dense  forest  be- 
hind it;  the  most  conspicuous  trees  are  the 
light-green  broad-leaved  banana  and  the 
palms  rearing  their  tufted  heads  high  above 
them  all.  The  soil  is  a  loamy  clay  "  equal 
to  the  best  sugar  lands  of  Brazil."  On  the 
banks  of  the  river  are  four  hundred  farms 
and  three  thousand  cultivators.  Many  of 
the  houses  are  of  brick.  Capt.  Lynch  says 
"  he  landed  at  four  or  five  places  and  saw 
every  indication  of  comfort  and  prosperity, 
far  more  so  than  in  Monrovia.  The  houses 
were  well  furnished.  The  sugar  cane  was 
growing  finely,  and  a  little  cotton  was  raised 
for  domestic  use.  The  coffee  tree  is  indigenous 
and  being  transplanted  requires  but  little 
care."  I  cannot  give  a  better  idea  of  the 
prosperity  of  the  settlements  on  the  St.  Pauls 
than  by  stating  that  cleared  land  fronting  the 
river  sells  at  $40  to  $50  per  acre.  Some  of 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


Ill 


the  country  seats  were  beautiful,  such  as 
Pleasant  View,  Iconium  and  Mt.  Horeb. 
Clay  Ashland  and  Millsburg  are  villages,  the 
former  having  about  200,  the  latter  about 
400  inhabitants. 

SINOU  COUNTY,  extends  from  the  river 
Sesters  on  the  North  to  Grand  Sesters  on  the 
South,  embracing  about  eighty  miles  of  Sea- 
coast.  Greenville  and  its  vicinity  and  Set- 
tra  Kroo  are  the  only  portions  of  the  coast 
settled  by  Liberians.  The  latter  is  only  a 
missionary  station  at  which  two  or  three 
families  of  Liberians  live.  Missionaries  of 
the  Presbyterian  Board  labored  at  Settra 
Kroo  for  several  years.  They  still  have  a 
native  school  there  taught  by  a  Liberian. 
The  Sinou,  a  small  but  placid  river  was  cho- 
sen many  years  ago  by  Colonists  from  Mis- 
sissippi, Louisiana  and  South  Carolina  who 
after  acclimating  at  Monrovia  founded  the 
town  of  Greenville  on  the  right  bank  just 
above  the  river's  mouth.  Greenville  faces 
the  sea  and  has  the  river  just  beyond  it.  To 
the  South  are  two  shallow  bays.  At  the 
North  Western  extremity  of  the  most  North- 
ern bay  is  the  promontory  of  Bloobarre,  a 
broad,  high  rock,  at  the  inland  base  of  which 
are  the  brown,  conical  huts  of  the  Bloobarre 
tribe.  Greenville  is  regularly  laid  out,  and 
Mississippi  avenue  with  a  row  of  houses  on 
one  side  and  the  sea  on  the  other  is  a  delight- 
ful promenade.  Capt.  Lynch  says  the  houses 
were  the  neatest  he  had  seen,  and  the  gar- 
dens much  better  than  those  at  Monrovia. 
There  is  a  number  of  mechanics  in  Green- 
ville and  also  a  steam  saw-mill  to  which  tim- 
ber is  rafted  by  an  artificial  canal  from  the 
river. 

The  river  though  deep  within  the  bar  is 
navigable  only  seventeen  miles  to  the  falls  ; 
about  two  miles  from  the  beach  it  branches 
into  two  streams.  On  the  land,  between  the 
two,  and  facing  both  rivers  are  several  vil- 
lages or  farming  settlements,  as  Rossville, 
Readsville,  Lexington,  &c.  The  population 
of  Greenville  is  about  600,  and  the  other 
settlements  have  about  100  each.  Rice  is 
the  principal  growth  and  is  raised  in  great 
quantities  by  the  Natives.  The  principal 
article  of  export  is  Palm  oilf  much  atten- 
tion is  paid  to  the  culture  of  the  coffee  plant 


which  Lynch  says  in  beauty  and  fragrance 
of  foliage  and  flower  equals  the  orange 
which  it  far  surpasses  in  the  fruit.  The  tim- 
ber in  many  varieties  is  harder  and  heavier 
than  any  in  America  except  the  live  oak, 
and  much  of  it  when  seasoned  will  not  float 
in  water.  Other  kinds  correspond  to  our 
pine  in  lightness,  and  whether  for  houses, 
ships  or  furniture,  the  mechanic  is  abun- 
dently  supplied. 

MARSHALL  is  a  settlement  of  about  300 
inhabitants  at  the  mouth  of  the  Junk  river 
which  empties  into  the  sea  about  35  miles 
south  of  Monrovia.  It  is  called  after  the 
late  chief  Justice  of  the  U.  States.  It  is 
noted  for  the  manufacture  of  lime  from  the 
shells  of  oysters  which  abound  in  the  Junk 
river.  The  northern  branch  of  this  river 
which  is  about  forty  miles  long  is  the  chief 
thoroughfare  between  Monrovia  and  Mar- 
shall. 

BASSA  COUNTY  has  the  towns  of  Edina 
and  Bassa  Cove  on  the  opposite  points  of  the 
mouth  of  the  St.  Johns  river  which  is  a 
beautiful  stream  flowing  into  the  sea  about 
sixty  miles  south  of  the  St.  Pauls.  Bassa 
Cove  extends  nearly  all  the  way  to  Fish- 
town  which  Is  at  the  point  of  Bassa  Cove  or 
harbour.  Within  the  bar  are  concentrated 
the  waters  of  three  rivers ;  the  Mecklin 
flowing  from  the  north ;  the  St.  Johns  from 
the  north  east;  and  the  Benson  from  the 
east. 

EDINA  settled  in  1832  has  about  300  in- 
habitants. It  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of 
the  estuary,  immediately  on  the  sea,  on  a 
tongue  of  land  between  the  Mecklin  and  the 
ocean.  It  has  one  Baptist  and  one  Metho- 
dist place  of  worship,  many  pleasant  resi- 
dences and  two  schools. 

UPPER  BUCHANAN  on  the  south  side  of  the 
estuary  has  about  280  inhabitants  and  is 
most  advantageously  situated  for  trade.  The 
Methodists  and  Baptists  have  places  of  wor- 
ship here,  and  there  are  two  schools  and  six 
stores. 

LOWER  BUCHANAN  is  two  miles  and  a  half 
south  of  the  river's  mouth,  and  is  beautifully 
situated  on  the  finest  bay  in  Liberia  There 
are  200  inhabitants.  The  new  mission  house 
for  an  Episcopal  missionary,  also  a  high 
school  building  and  church  will  be  erected 
near  this  settlement.  The  mission  house  is 


112 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


now  going  up.  On  the  Benson  river  there 
is  a  steam  saw  mill.  Near  Buchanan  Capt. 
Lynch  saw  a  number  of  cattle  larger  than 
those  at  Monrovia. 

HARRISBURG  AND  Bexi.EY  are  farming  dis- 
tricts on  the  St.  Johns.  The  former  is  a  re- 
cent settlement ;  the  latter  extends  five  or 
six  miles  along  the  river,  and  some  of  the 
residences  and  farms  present  an  interesting 
appearance.  Industry  and  enterprise  are  ap- 
parent. The  northern  Baptist  Board  is  do- 
ing an  excellent  work  among  the  Bassas. 
The  mission  buildings  at  Bexley  are  beauti- 
fully situated.  Mr.  Von  Bruns  village  of 
native  Bassas,  opposite  Bexley,  is  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  Liberia,  and  Mr.  Van  Brun 
its  chief,  is  a  Christian  teacher  and  magis- 
trate. The  Methodists  and  Baptists  are  both 
laboring  successfully  on  the  St.  Johns.  The 
St.  Johns  river  is  half  a  mile  wide  at  the 
estuary,  and  for  a  mile  is  fringed  with  man- 
groves. Thence  it  gradually  lessens  in  width 
and  at  the  distance  of  three  miles  is  divided 
into  two  channels  by  Factory  Island.  Above 
the  Island  the  river  gradually  narrows  in 
width  and  does  not  exceed  two  hundred 
yards  at  Bexley.  Opposite  to  Bexley  is  the 
town  of  "Old  Soldier,"  a  venerable  and 
frieudly  old  man  upwards  of  one  hundred 
years  old.  Not  far  above  is  the  head  of  navi- 
gation. After  the  mangrove  ceases  the  soil 
is  a  yellowish  clay;  and  the  principal  growth 
is  the  soap  tree,  the  wild  cotton  tree  and  the 
palm  tree. 

The  chief  forest  growth  above  the  rapids 
is    Camwood,    bastard    Mahogany,    African 
Hickory  and  Oak.     From  thirty  to  fifty  miles 
from  the  sea  is  one  unbroken  Camwood  for- 
est used  by  the  natives  for  fuel  and  for  build-  • 
ing.     The   whole  world  might  be   supplied  \ 
with  Camwood  wafted  down  the  St.  Johns,  i 
Most  of  the  land  on  the  coast  has  been  clear- ! 
ed,  cultivated,  abandoned,  is  grown   up  into| 
tangled  thickets  and  shrubs  interlaced  with  ; 
enumerable  vines  and  creepers.     In  ascend- i 
ing  the  rivers  the  primitive  forest  in   all  its 
natural  grandeur  rovers  the  earth  ;  the  grace- I 
ful  palm  tree  waves,- its  feathery  branches/ 
and  the  lofty  Wisnione  and  huge  mahogany 
rear  their  towering  heads,  while  among  the 
green  foliage  is  seen  innumerable  gay  blos- 
soms, which,  says  Lynch,  give  a  kaleidosco- 
pic variety  to  the  embowering  wood. 


MARYLAND  in  Liberia  is  an  independent 
State.  It  was  settled  in  1834  by  Colonists 
from  the  State  of  Maryland.  It  is  about 
250  miles  by  sea,  south  east  of  Monrovia. 
Cape  Palmas  is  a  rocky  peninsula  joined  to 
the  main  by  a  low,  sandy  isthmus  ;  the  high- 
est part  of  it  is  about  74  feet  above  the  sea. 
Its  eastern  end  is  covered  by  a  collection  of 
Native  houses  called  Grand  Town  :  on  the 
remainder  of  the  peninsula  is  the  settlement 
of  Colonists.  The  chief  town  is  Harper. 
The  cession  of  this  territory  was  negotiated 
by  Dr.  James  Hall.  In  February,  1834,  the 
Maryland  Col.  Society  landed  53  emigrants 
at  this  point.  In  1836  an  additional  tract  of 
land  was  procured,  extending  the  Colonial 
territory  along  the  Cavally  to  the  distance  of 
30  miles  from  its  mouth.  1'ahnas  river 
washes  the  Northern  side  of  the  peninsula. 
In  1837  Russwurm  a  colored  man  was  ap- 
pointed governor.  This  colony  is  now  an 
independent  State.  William  A.  Prout  (a 
colored  man)  the  secretary  and  friend  of 
Russwurm  has  been  appointed  Governor,  and 
B.  J.  Drayton,  Lt.  Governor,  and  Thomas 
Mason,  Secretary  of  State.  The  Cavally 
river  enters  the  sea  fifteen  miles  east  of  Cape 
Palmas.  Its  mouth  being  choked  by  sand 
bars  is  not  more  than  one  hundred  yards 
wide,  but  immediately  above  it  spreads  out 
to  the  breadth  of  half  a  mile.  It  is  naviga- 
ble for  boats  sixty  miles.  At  the  distance  of 
forty  five  miles  from  the  coast,  it  passes  be- 
tween two  high  mountains  which  in  clear 
weather  are  visible  from  the  sea.  The  names 
of  some  twenty  tribes  are  familiar  as  inhabit- 
ing the  banks  of  the  Cavalla  and  on  its 
placid  bosom  the  messengers  of  the  gospel 
are  carrying  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel  to 
the  heathen.  Maryland  in  Liberia  is  the 
chief  seat  of  the  American  Episcopal  Mis- 
sionaries who  have  a  church,  (St.  Mark's)  an 
orphan  Asylum  and  schools.  The  Baptists 
and  Methodists  and  Presbyterians  have  also 
missions  in  this  State.  We  regret  thai  we 
have  not  the  materials-  at  hand  for  an  accu- 
rate and  fuller  account  of  these  interesting 
missions.  The  population  is  about  1000  em- 
igrants from  America  and  many  native  tribes 
under  the  Jurisdiction  of  the  State. 

N"TK. — The  foregoing  geography  of  Liberia  lias  been 
compiled  troin  the  persomil  observations  of  ("apt-iiin 
Lynch  and  Foute  of  the  United  Si;ii.'<  Navy,  of  l)r  Lu  • 
genbeel,  find  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  I'imiey  and  (ini-ley,  and 
of  11  wriier  in  the  Cuvallu  JMe.ssen^fr  a  p-qirr  published 
by  the  Episcopal  Mis.sionurinM  at  Capo  1'alm.i-. 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


113 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Testimony  of  eye-witnesses  of  Liberia :  Rev. 
Messrs.  Gurley  and  Pinney,  of  Dr.  Lugen- 
beel,  of  the  Missionaries,  of  our  JVatW  Offi- 
cers, Commodores  Stockton,  Perry,  Mayo, 
Lavalette,  Read,  Cooper  and  Gregory;  Com- 
manders Lynch,  Foote,  Marston,  Rutld  and 
Purser  Bradford;  comparison  of  Coloniza- 
tion of  Virginia  and  Liberia,  $c.\ 

We  Bre  aware  that  there  are  those  who  re- 
gard tha  pictures  of  Liberia,  drawn  by  its 
partial  friends,  as  overwrought,  To  some 
extent  this  is  probably  true  ;  but  if  any  reli- 
ance is  to  be  placed  on  human  testimony, 
we  cannot  be  deceived  as  to  the  main  facts, 
attested  as  they  are  by  so  many  disinterested 
and  unimpeachable  witnesses. 

Not  having  visited  Liberia  ourselves,  we 
are  obliged  to  rely  upon  the  evidence  ol 
those  who  testify  what  they  have  seen.  These 
eye-witnesses  may  be  distributed  into  three 
classes :  the  first  class  will  embrace  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Gurley  and  Pinney,  and  Dr.  Lngen- 
beel.  Mr.  Gurley  visited  the  colony  in  its 
infancy,  and  again  in  1849,  after  a  lapse  o 
twenty  years.  On  the  latter  occasion  he 
went  out  at  the  instance  of  the  government  o 
the  United  States,  with  instructions  to  ascer- 
tain and  report  the  condition  and  resources 
of  the  Republic  of  Liberia.  He  made  an 
elaborate  report  of  his  observations,  to  the 
Secretary  of  State  which  was  communicatec 
by  him  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States 
and  printed  by  its  order. 

Dr.  Lugenbeel  resided  six  years  in  Liberia 
as  colonial  physician  and  agent  of  the  Ame 
rican  government  for  recaptured   Africans 
The  result  of  his  observations  may  be  seen  in 
his  Sketches  of  Liberia,  which  give  much  val 
uable  information  about  the  geography,  cli 
mate  and  productions  of  the  country. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Pinney  was  once  governo 
of  the  colony,  and  after  the  lapse  of  man 
years,  revisited  it  in  1854.  His  report  ha 
been  spread  before  the  public  in  all  ou 
newspapers.  These  witnesses  being  all  ar 
dent  colonizationists,  may  be  suspected  o 
having  painted  too  flattering  a  portrait  of  th 
young  Republic.  Let  their  testimony  then 

be  compared  with  the  depositions  of  othe 
15 


itnesses.  There  are  many  Christian  mis- 
ionaries  within  the  limits  of  Liberia  ;  many 
f  these  went  to  Africa  with  strong  preju- 
ices  against  the  colonies;  they  were  of  opi- 
ion  that  a  community  of  merely  nominal 
Christians  should  not  be  placed  in  contact 
vith  the  heathen,  lest  the  latter  should  be 
rejudiced  against  Christianity  by  the  incon- 
istent  lives  of  the  colonists,  whom  they 

uld  regard   as  the  representatives  of  the 
eligion   of  Christ.     The   missionaries   now 
admit  that  this  was  a  short-sighted   view  of 
he  subject,  and  they  concur  in  the  opinion 
hat  the  colonies,  in  connection  with   mis- 
ions,  are  designed  b/  Providence  to  be  the 
nstruments  of  African   regeneration.     The 
children  of  colonists  furnish  the  best  mate 
rial  for  colored  missionaries,  upon  whom  they 
ultimately  rely  for  a  permanent  ministry. 

But  there  is  another  class  of  witnesses 
ibove  all  suspicion  of  bias.  These  are  the 
gallant  officers  of  our  Navy,  who  have  com- 
manded squadrons  and  single  ships  upon  the 
coast  of  Africa.  The  first  of  these  whom  we 
shall  cite,  is  Commodore  Stockton,  who,  dur- 
ing Mr.  Monroe's  administration,  cooperated 
in  choosing  the  site  of  the  first  plantation. 
In  a  letter  to  the  author  in  December,  1852, 
he  says:  "In  regard  to  Liberia  becoming  a 
permanent  and  desirable  asylum  for  our  free 
people  of  color,  I  consider  that  question  set- 
tled by  the  experiment  already  made.  No 
colony  in  modern  times  has  given  more  au- 
spicious indications  of  ultimate  success. — 
Liberia,  in  my  opinion,  is  the  natural  home 
and  should  be  the  alluring  hope  of  the  Afri- 
can in  America. 

The  only  hope  of  the  race  and  of  Africa, 
is  in  colonizing  those  who  have  been  chris- 
tianized on  their  ancestral  shores,  where 
they  may  secure  the  blessings  already  achiev- 
ed, and  communicate  them  to  their  kindred 
but  barbarous  tribes.  That  in  Liberia  the 
negro  race  may  rise  and  become  a  flourish- 
ing and  progressive  race,  I  have  no  doubt. 
Elsewhere  there  is  no  such  hope  to  encour- 
age them.  I  have  great  confidence  in  the 
success  of  the  good  cause  in  which  you  are 
engaged.  It  has  passed  through  its  state  of 
infancy  and  childhood,  and  is  fast  ripening 
into  the  bone  and  hardihood  of  maturity.  I 


114 


Ike  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


hope    that  Virginia   may  soon  become   the 
entire  friend  of  this  noble  cause." 

Commodore  Perry  says:  "Having  had  an 
agency  while  serving  as  1st  Lieutenant  of 
the  Cyane  in  the  selection  of  Mesurado  as  a 
suitable  place  for  settling  the  colonists,  I  first 
saw  this  beautiful  promontory,  when  its  dense 
forests  were  only  inhabited  by  wild  beasts. 
Since  then,  I  have  visited  it  thrice,  and  each 
time  have  noticed  with  infinite  satisfaction, 
its  progressive  improvement."  After  notic- 
ing several  particulars,  he  continues  :  "Upon 
the  whole,  I  cannot  but  think  most  favorably 
of  these  settlements.  The  experiment  of 
settling  the  free  colored  people  upon  this 
coast,  has  succeeded  beyond  the  expecta- 
tions of  many  of  the  warmest  friends  of  col- 
onization, and  I  may  venture  to  predict  that 
the  descendants  of  the  present  settlers  are 
destined  to  become  an  intelligent  and  thriv- 
ing people.  The  endeavors  of  the  colonists 
to  suppress  the  slave  trade,  have  been  emi- 
nently successful,  and  it  is  by  planting  these 
settlements  along  the  coast,  that  the  export- 
ation of  slaves  will  be  most  effectually  pre- 
vented. These  settlements  would  have  a 
certain  tendency  to  civilize  natives  by  intro- 
ducing among  them  schools,  the  mechanic 
arts,  and  those  comforts  for  which  they  will 
exchange  articles  of  African  produce.  Their 
commerce,  already  considerable,  would  be 
increased.  It  is  much  to  be  desired  that 
these  settlements  should  be  multiplied  and 
sustained  by  the  fostering  care  of  Congress 
and  the  government." 

Commodore  Mayo  in  1853,  writing  from  the 
flag-ship,  gives  his  opinion  as  follows  : 

"  When  in  command  of  the  Macedonian 
in  1843—44,  my  interest  in  colonization  was 
confirmed  by  my  observations.  My  more 
recent  observations  in  this  ship  have  con- 
vinced me  that  the  efforts  of  the  coloniza- 
tion societies  have  been  crowned  wilh  the 
most  substantial  success,  and  that  the  results 
of  their  generous  philanthropy  is  no  longer 
doubtful.  No  one  who  sees  the  American 


brick  houses,  which  are  supplanting  the 
cheaper  structures  of  the  earlier  colonists, 
will  fail  to  find  abundant  evidence  of  the  im- 
proved condition  of  the  black  man  in  his  new 
home.  I  have  the  strongest  faith  in  the  bright 
future  that  awaits  Libeiia,  and  that  she  will 
wield  the  moat  powerful  influence  in  regene- 
rating Africa. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  find  that  the  most 
cordial  feeling  seems  to  exist  between  the 
missionaries  and  the  colonial  authorities. 
The  American  colonies  have  driven  the 
slavers  from  a  large  portion  of  the  coast, 
once  their  favorite  resort,  and  the  influence 
of  legitimate  trade  will  prove  one  of  the  most 
powerful  instruments  for  the  suppression  of 
the  traffic.  The  English  have  shown  much 
wisdom  in  establishing  their  line  of  steamers 
and  it  is  greatly  to  be  regretted,  that  our  own 
government  has  not  been  authorized  to  avail 
itself  of  this  method  of  securing  a  valuable 
jranch  of  commerce,  and  affording  aid  to 
colonization.  The  withdrawal  of  the  African 
squadron  would  be  attended  with  the  most 
injurious  results.  Our  trade  on  this  coast 
would  certainly  be  destroyed  or  perverted  to 
the  purposes  of  the  slave  trade,  &.c. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  say- 
ing as  a  southerner  and  a  slaveholder,  that 
every  exertion  should  be  used  to  get  at  least 
one  or  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  car- 
ry out  the  laudable  views  of  our  several  colo- 
nization societies,  and  if  the  abolitionists 
(who,  I  see  by  the  papers,  have  been  attack- 
ing you  as  well  as  me,)  would  appropriate 
half  the  money  they  expend  in  aiding  the 
running  away  of  our  negroes,  to  the  coloni- 
zation society,  they  would  stand  some  chance 
of  getting  to  Heaven.1' 

To*  the  foregoing  might  be  added  the  evi- 
dence of  Commodores  Read,  Lavelcfte,  Skin- 
ner, Cooper,  Gregory,  and  we  believe  of  every 
officer  who  has  commanded  a  squadron  upon 
the  coast  of  Africa  ;  but  our  space  forbids. 
We  must  content  ourselves  with  summoning 
several  witnesses  from  a  number  of  subordi- 


emigrant  in  the  Legislature  and  courts  of 
justice,  performing  the  highest  duties  of  a 
citizen  with  grave  and  decorous  intelligence, 
no  one  who  sees  the  schools  and  churches, 
the  erection  of  substantial  and  spacious 


nate  officers,  who  have  testified  in  favor  of 
Liberia.  Among  these,  Commanders  Foote 
and  Lynch  have  made  the  fullest  reports. 
The  former  commanded  the  brig  Perry  in 
1850  and  1851,  and  has  written  an  instruc- 


The  Virginian  Histoey  ef  African  Colonization. 


115 


live  volume  of  nearly  400  pages,  entitled  Af- 
rica and  the  American  Flag,  in  which  he  lias 
given  a  view  of  the  whole  subject  in  all  its 
aspects  and  relations.  One  who  would  form 
a  just  judgment  of  Liberia,  should  not  fail  to 
consult  Commander  Foote's  interesting 
pages. 

Commander  Lynch,  in  18*2,  was  ordered 
by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  visit  the 
coast  of  Africa,  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring 
intelligence  preliminary  to  an  exploration  of 
the  country  interior  and  adjacent  to  Liberia. 
In  obedience  to  this  order  he  visited  many 
places  on  the  Liberian  coast  and  in  the  inte- 
rior. 

The  result  of  his  observations  was  publish- 
ed by  Congress  in  a  volume  of  sixty-four 
pages,  containing  much  valuable  information 
about  the  Liberian  settlements,  the  com- 
merce and  productions  and  general  condi- 
tion of  the  Republic  and  the  adjacent  coun- 
try. We  should  be  pleased  to  give  a  sum- 
mary of  this  valuable  report,  but  we  must 
content  ourselves  with  the  remark,  that  it  is 
of  the  same  import  with  the  documents  al- 
ready cited,  and  beg  our  readers  to  consult 
it  for  themselves.  We  now  quote  from  a 
letter  of  Commander  John  Ru.ld,  of  Frede- 
ricksburg,  Va.,  written  to  ourselves  in  com- 
pliance with  our  request  that  he  would  give 
us  his  candid  opinion  of  Liberia.  The  letter 
is  dated  U.  S.  ship  Constitution,  off  Monro- 
via, October,  1853.  "I  promised  to  give 
you  my  opinion  about  the  colonies  on  this 
coast.  Of  course,  thus  far,  I  have  had  but 
little  chance  for  observation,  but  what  I  have 
seen  has  made  a  very  favorable  impression. 
The  emigrants  appear  to  be  well  instructed, 
having  many  comforts,  and  all  appear  to  be 
contented  and  happy.  Jlmy  person  that  will 
work  can  do  very  well  here.  I  went  to  the 
Episcopal  church  yesterday  ;  a  black  priest 
officiated,  and  did  very  well.  As  to  their 
having  slaves,  it  is  all  humbug.  Those  who 
can  afford  it  have  servants.  I  took  dinner 
with  President  Roberts  and  was  much  pleas- 
ed with  him  and  his  lady.  I  have  made 
several  visits  and  never  received  more  hospi- 
tality any  where. 

I  have  been  told  that  the  people  in  the 
country  are  doing  better  than  those  in  town. 


The  English  have  a  line  of  steamers  on  the 
coast  which  are  taking  away  all  the  trade 
from  us.  Steam  is  the  only  thing  on  this 
coast." 

Purser  Bradford  of  the  Navy,  says  "he 
was  three  years  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  and 
was  diligent  in  making  inquiries  and  obser- 
vations, and  he  saw  no  emigrants  who  were 
desirous  of  returning.  The  general  tone  of 
the  community  was  that  of  content  and  hap- 
piness— he  believed  that  there  was  no  more 
moral,  correct  and  religious  population  on 
the  face  of  the  globe,"  &c.  Surely  these 
authorities  will  satisfy  any  reasonable  man. 
But  there  are  opposing  authorities.  Some 
officers  have  expressed  opinions  unfavorable 
to  Liberia.  These  have  been  expressed  in 
private  conversation.  If  we  had  any  written 
statements  we  would  print  them,  as  we  wish 
to  have  the  whole  truth  upon  this  subject. — 
Upon  this  point  we  addressed  inquiries  to 
Captain  Marston,  who  replied  as  follows :  "I 
am  aware  that  some  of  our  officers  have  ex- 
pressed opinions  unfavorable  to  Liberia,  but 
with  these  I  have  always  differed.  Their 
opinions,  I  think,  were  governed  by  their 
expectations  being  raised  too  high;  if  they 
had  reflected  that  a  little  more  than  thirty 
years  ago  there  were  only  twenty  Americans 
in  Liberia,  and  now  it  is  an  independent  re- 
public, acknowledged  by  the  great  powers  of 
Europe,  their  surprise  would  have  been  as  it 
was  with  myself,  that  so  much  had  been  ac- 
complished in  so  short  a  time,  under  such 
unfavorable  circumstances.  That  the  emi- 
grants have  some  difficulties  and  privations 
to  encounter,  all  will  admit;  but  there  are 
many  privileges  and  comforts  to  counterbal- 
ance these ;  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  give 
my  opinion  in  favor  of  emigration  to  Li- 
beria." 

We  might  multiply  these  authorities  over 
many  pages,  and  we  might  add  to  them  let- 
ter after  letter  from  the  emigrants  them- 
selves, expressing  gratitude  for  the  past,  sat- 
isfaction with  the  present,  and  hope  for  the 
future.  But  we  have  already  exceeded  our 
limits,  and  must  refer  those  who  want  more 
light,  to  the  documents  themselves,  which 
can  be  had  by  all  who  desire  them. 

We  do  not  wish  to  conceal  the  fact  that 


116 


The  Virginian  History  of  African  Colonization. 


some  expeditions  to  Liberia  have  been  at- 
teuded  by  much  suffering  and  mortality. 
Such  disasters  have  marked  every  like  enter- 
prise. A  comparison  of  the  colonization  of 
Liberia  with  that  of  Virginia,  will  be  instruc- 
tive. The  first  two  expeditions  to  our  own 
shores  were  perfect  failures,  both  having 
been  overwhelmed  at  sea ;  the  third  effected 
u  landing  in  1586,  and  in  five  years  was  ex- 
linct  The  fourth  was  successful  after  a  se- 
ries of  disasters,  the  recital  of  which  fills  the 
mind  with  horror.  In  1609,  says  a  historian 
of  Virginia,  Captain  Smith  left  at  Jamestown 
490  persons,  with  abundant  supplies.  Soon 
plots  thickened  around  them,  Indian  ambus- 
cades were  in  every  hedge,  the  settlers  dared 
not  wander  forth  in  search  of  food  or  recrea- 
tion, their  provisions  either  failed  entirely  or 
were  rendered  unwholesome  by  decay,  dis- 
eases spread  rapidly  and  death  began  his 
race,  famine  in  all  its  horrors,  was  among 
them,  they  subsisted  upon  the  skins  of  horses, 
upon  dogs,  vermin  and  the  body  of  an  In- 
dian. Of  490  persons,  sixty  only  survived, 
living  upon  roots  and  berries  until  they  were 
relieved  by  supplies  from  home.  This  fact 


in  our  history,  seems  to  have  been  forgotten 
by  those  who  are  so  discouraged  by  the  mor- 
tality attending  some  companies  to  Liberia. 
The  truth  is  that  forty  years  had  elapsed  after 
the  settlement  of  Roanoke,  before  the  colo- 
nies of  England  on  this  coast  attained  the 
stature  of  Liberia,  and  centuries  passed  away 
before  civil  and  religious  rights  were  so  well 
understood.  There  is  not  a  Spanish  colony 
at  this  day,  not  even  an  old  established  coun- 
try of  Europe,  which  is  prepared  for  such  a 
constitution  as  tha  which  the  Liberians  have 
voluntarily  adopted.  Distressing  as  the  mor- 
tality has  occasionally  been,  a  comparison 
will  show  that  it  has  been  less  than  that 
which  attended  the  settlement  at  Jamestown 
or  Plymouth,  or  California.  If  similar  disas- 
ters had  overtaken  Liberia,  to  those  which 
have  signalized  many  new  settlements  in  our 
own  country,  our  enterprise  would  have  been 
overwhelmed  with  the  curses  of  those  phil- 
anthropists who  have  no  tears  to  shed  over 
the  young,  the  beautiful  and  the  brave,  whose 
bones  bleach  the  prairies  of  the  West,  and 
the  shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the 
Pacific  Ocean. 


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